> Sorry folks, apart from bay leaves being used in food, this is OT and
> should go to urg but I am still having terrible trouble with Usenet
> and my software expert isn't coming in to clean up my computer until
> next week.  (I think my anti virus software has fire-walled Usenet).

> I hope perhaps Sacha or Mike will be able to offer a word of advice -
> I have two mature bay trees in my garden and one of them has small
> white furry spots on its trunk, which wipe off with kitchen paper.
> Inside the spots is a small brown mark, which looks like a little grub
> but it doesn't move and just 'melts' into the white stuff when smeared
> off the tree.  I am worried it is some sort of fungus disease.  Can
> you offer advice please?  many thanks in advance.