8 ilEPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



in this district also. The effect of the work in reducing 

 the severity of the disease within the infected tract was 

 not easy to estimate when the report was written, but with 

 the further records since available it appears that a distinct 

 decrease in the mortality is noticeable at the present time. 

 If the disease can be effectively confined to the existing 

 limits, the outlay incurred will be amply justified, and 

 there is every reason to hope that the continuation of the 

 work will lead to its being gradually stamped out 

 altogether. 



The need for a mycologist to work specially on the 

 diseases of the tea plant has become increasingly apparent, 

 and the Indian Tea Association have decided to add an 

 appointment of this nature to their Scientific Department. 

 Meanwhile, Pusa gives such assistance as is possible. Mr. 

 McRae's Bulletin on blister-blight in Darjeeling, published 

 at the beginning of the year, indicates the lines on which 

 the control of this dangerous blight should be attempted. 

 Many planters are experimenting on these lines, but the 

 disease is firmly established and still spreading; unless a 

 cheap and effective method of lessening its ravages can be 

 worked out, there is every reason to fear that the result 

 will be a permanent and considerable reduction of the 

 Darjeeling tea crop. The copper-blight of tea was 

 described by Mr. Shaw, the parasite which causes it not 

 having been previously known to occur in India. A disease 

 of tea seed was investigated by me, and shown to be pro- 

 bably associated with an insect which punctures the seed, 

 and so admits rotting fungi to the tissues of the interior. 

 It is believed that this insect can be fairly easily destroyed. 



Other diseases investigated by the section, of which 

 accounts were published during the year, were soft rot of 

 ginger (by Mr. McRae), turmeric leaf spot (by myself), and 

 heart rot of the blue pine (by Mr. Hafiz). Forest diseases, 

 of which the last named is an instance, cause great losses in 

 India; Pusa gives such assistance as it can to the Forest 

 Department, but there is room for a mycologist to work 

 specially at these diseases. 



