14 TREE RooT DISEASES. 

the cortex of the roots, which in course of time bore clusters 
of erect stems, each composed of a fascicle of parallel hyphe, 
which bear conidia at their much-branched tips, as repre- 
sented in Figs. 8, 9, 10. Scattered at intervals amongst the 
sclerotia were minute black bodies, which proved to be a 
second form of fruit, known as pycnidia, and containing 
minute spore-like bodies — stylospores—in their interior 
(Figs. 11, 12). The stylospores germinated and produced a 
delicate mycelium within twenty-four hours when sown in 
pure water. The same is true of the conidia previously men- 
tioned. The highest or ascigerous condition of fruit was not 
produced on the roots, owing probably to their disintegrated 
condition, a more durable matrix being essential for its 
development. During the period of this investigation a 
parcel of New Zealand fungi, collected and communicated by 
W. Colenso, M.A., F.R.S., was received at Kew, and amongst 
the number was a species of Rose/linza, marked “ at the base 
of a fallen and decayed apple tree.” Uareful examination of 
this specimen revealed the presence of sclerotia bearing 
conidia identical with those of the fungus under considera- 
tion, mixed with the perithecia or ascigerous condition of 
Colenso’s spetimen (Figs. 1-6); and, further, it appears that 
the perithecia originate from the sclerotia, which previously 
bear the conidial form of reproduction. 
Regarding the boxes previously mentioned it is only 
necessary to state that the mycelium spread through the 
leaf-mould, and also attacked the apple tree root and the 
seedling beeches. 
At the close of the experiments all the material, with the 
exception of microscopic preparations, was carefully 
destroyed by burning. 
PREVENTIVE MEASURES. 
Notwithstanding the fact that the New Zealand fungus 
proves to be distinct from the European root fungus, yet the 
general habit, mode of attack, and structure of the two are 
so similar that the same methods of combating the disease 
will apply to both. 
Owing to the habit of the fungus in penetrating and 
