The black fungus is 'one of those things'. Even our ever diligent URL sleuth Byron has been unable to find anyone that can state with certainty what causes it and how to prevent it. Some years it seems worse than others. Just pitch the bad ones. Straw and sawdust are not very good items to use. Both can breed all kinds of nasty rots and fungus if placed directly intothe soil. They should be well composted first. -Jim C MWPH Setting 'slow mail' for vacation.