DISEASE OF COLOCASIA IN JAMAICA. 45 
Disease of Colocasia in Jamaica. By Grorer Masser, Esq. 
Communicated, with an Introductory Note, by D. Morris, 
M.A., F.L.S., Assistant Director Royal Gardens, Kew. 
[Read 3rd March, 1887.] 
| (Prare I.) 
| Intropuctrory REMARKS on THE DISEASE or COLOCASIA 
IN JAMAICA. 
Wear are known as “Cocoes” and “Tayas” in Jamaica, 
* Tanias" in Trinidad, “ Tanniers" and * Eddoes" in Bar- 
badoes, form an important element in the food of West-Indian 
negroes. The different varieties under cultivation in the West 
Indies are probably referable to Colocasia esculenta, Schott. 
The genus Colocasia belongs to the natural order Aroidex, and 
the portions of the plants utilized as food are the stems and 
shoots from the main stem. "These afford, when boiled or roasted, 
| a wholesome and nourishing food, preferred by negroes even to 
| yams and sweet-potato.  '*Cocoes" are easily cultivated by 
| cuttings from the main stem which, with the terminal bud, are 
commonly called the “head.” They begin to yield in about nine 
months after planting, and will continue to produce crop for 
about three years, when the cultivation is either renewed or more 
likely removed to a fresh locality. 
This much, by way of introduction, may usefully explain the 
value and importance of the following notes prepared by Mr. 
Massee on a disease which has appeared amongst “ Cocoes ” in 
the neighbourhood of Priestman's river, Parish of Portland, 
Jamaica. 
The effects of the destruction of such a food-crop amongst the 
negroes of Jamaica would be almost comparable to the loss of 
the potuto-crop amongst the peasantry of Ireland. Strange to 
say, the disease amongst these tropical “ Cocoes " is caused by a 
member of the same genus as the well-known and destructive 
potato-fungus; and, as it has been found to be a new species, 
it is named by Mr. Massee Peronospora trichotoma. 
Although, so far, the disease has only appeared in one locality 
in Jamaica, it is obviously most important to restrict it as much 
as possible to that locality. 
