•1(5 



THE AGRICULTUKAL NEWS. 



I'lliltUAEV 6. 1919. 



PLANT DISEASES. 



THE ROUT DISEASE OR RED RING 

 DISEASE OF COCO-NUT PALMS 



In ivunexii'ii with the rf|iort on the above subject 

 "Phich :ij)peared in this Journal on page 298 of Volume X\'II 

 il'ec. 14, 191^), it is desirable to take an early opportunity 

 cf suniuiaii/ing the results of later investigation, in view of 

 the niodificatiuDs in the method of handling diseased trees 

 vhich arise from fuller knowledjie. 



j)uring the recent visit of the writer to Trini lad .fairly 

 tienuent opportunities arose of examining trees affected with 

 ilii.'* disease. In all cases the piesenee of nematode worms 

 vas general in the diseased roots at all stages, exactly as in 

 the Grenada cases previously reported on . As in Grenada, 

 I'lowever, no gravid females, eggs or immature worms were 

 Jonnd in the toot tissues, and it seemed evident that breeding 

 was taking place elsewhere. 



When release from other duties permitted of more 

 •detailed investigation being made, it was found, on uncovering 

 the roots of a failing tree, that infestation was in general pro- 

 ceeding outwards from the base, not, as had been expected, 

 inwards from the surrounding soil. The red cylinder in the 

 ateni, which is the most oharacieiistic feature of the disease, 

 was then examined, and was found to be throughout its extent 

 the breeding ground of the worm. The yellowed and red- 

 dened conical tissues which make up this cylinder are 

 in'ected with worms (in all stages) and their eggs. The upper 

 extremity of the discoloured tissue shows small cavities, 

 j>imilarly infested, just beginning; and fections in this 

 region reveal the eggs inserted in living tissue, this at a 

 lieight in the first case exatnined of some 4 feet <i inches from 

 the ground, and about equidistant in cross seciion from the 

 younger leaf bases and the centie of the stem. 



The base of the leafstalks of young and healthy looking 

 leaves was also found lo be infested in clearly defined yellowed 

 ■ireas, the infection apparently proceeding (though the point 

 was not definitely decided) from the red cylinder in the stem. 

 *rhis provides a rational explanation, previously lacking, of 

 the association of a localized wet rot of the leaf base with the 

 disease. Simple explanations now suggest themselves, 

 moreover, for the fact that in the great majority of cases trees 

 which have passed the first years of bearing escape the disease. 



Ths^re is little doubt, from the successive dying of trees 

 in groups, that the disease .sjireads from tree to tree. Tt is 

 urgently required that the mode of infection should be dis- 

 cfjvered. Meanwhile there is indicated the desirability of 

 the destruction of the trees immediately they show definite 

 .ligns of infection, and the statement previously made, that 

 the disposal of the stem i.s of no consequence, must be com- 

 pletely withdrawn. It is now shown to be even more desir- 

 .'ible to destroy the stem and the leaf bases than the roots 

 themselves. 



At the same time caution must be exercised in marking 

 trees for destruction, as the early stages of this disease are 

 hardly distinguishable from the effects of an unthrifty con- 

 dition. The latter, however, lends to persist witUout much 

 alteration, whereas the cases of di.^eaae progress steadily and 

 -omewhat rapidly towards inevitable death. 



It may further be pointed out that the designation 'root 

 disease , always umlesiiably vague, becomes, in the light of this 

 evidence, definitely inappropriatt It is suggested that the 

 name 'red ring disease', indicating the most important diag- 

 Bcstic feature, would be mrre suitable. 



W. N. 



PAPER ^ARN. 



Thi great progre.-.-^ that has been iirado in the use of wood 

 cellulose for textile purposfs in the last few years is the 

 subject of an article in T/m Times Tnuk Suppkmnit, Decem- 

 ber 191 s. It would appear that paper yarn is likely to be a 

 formidable competitor ot vegetable yarns, such 'y% jute, hem[), 

 cotton, which have hitherto bewi almost the only source of 

 yarns used in the production of woven fabrics. 



The development of the paper yarn industry in Germany 

 to remedy the deficiency in the supplies of the'l'amiliar fibre 

 textiles, irrore particularly of woo], cotton, and jute, is one 

 which should command close .study and attention. There is- 

 every indication that paper textiles are destined to play a 

 prominent part in the future. 



Germany is sparing no effort to exploit her paper .yarn 

 industry to the utmost. Economic conditions, and the uncer- 

 tainty of the future are responsible for this action. 



The utilization of paper yarn as a raw material has 

 enabled them to keep their factories going. A year ago thi.s- 

 industry extended employment to 1.3,000 people, while 'he 

 daily output of paper yarn was 100,000 kilos. To meet 

 this output. •?,0(i0,0OO cubic metres of wood a year are 

 requisite. 



In November I'.)16, the German Haw Material l»e- 

 partment estimated that the paper yarn requirements for 

 the army wfiuld be 1,000 wagon-loads per month. It wa.* 

 demanded for the tnaimfactuie of sand bags, straw, and 

 forage sacks, the jirovision of canvas tents, and for a wide 

 variety of other purposes for which it is eminently adapted. 

 This ((uantity did not completely satisfy the army's needs. 

 When blended with other textiles, such as cotton and hemp, 

 and in varying proportions, the grade and streni^^th of the 

 yarn are proportionately improved It is the \asi field 

 awaiting exploitation by the pafieryarn interests which in- 

 vests this development with such significance. 



It is generally believed that this product is of (lerniac- 

 origin, but this is nfit the case. 



The 1-iritish inventions dealing with this proHucC- 

 command superiority over the German essentially by 

 rea.son of increased spinning speed and I'educed waste. 

 It was less efficiency in regard to the.se two factors «hich 

 reacted against the success of the Teuton invention for 

 five years. As a matter of fact the spinning speed 

 attained with the British machinery compares very 

 favourably with that generally recorded in connexion with 

 cott<>n and wool, .so that the process is able to compete rtith the 

 fibre materials. The variety of fabrics which may be woveu 

 either directly with paper yarn or in association with fibres 

 is very wide, including carpets, ropes, sacks cf all kinds 

 linoleum without the assistance of either cork or linseed oil 

 braiding, belting, webbing, wall coverings, ami even a. 

 s ibstituie for three plyboarding. as well as twines and strings. 



The many products maimlactured b\ the I'ritish and 

 (terinau machinery have been submitted to .searching compari- 

 son by several orticial departments, while the .Vllied G.jvern- 

 loents have also investigated the process. The reports have 

 proved highly favourable, with the results that paper wovea 

 fabrics are now b-iing widely ii.sed by the War Ortice and 

 other branches nl the various services as a substitute for 

 materials tormeily made from jute and hemp. T^i recite all 

 the varied applications is unnecessary, 'but it may be .said 

 that sacks are now being made from paper to carry cement, 

 Haud. .salt, borax, terliHzers. and other kindre<l materials, as 

 well as tor the packing of foodsiutl's -gr tin, potatoes, Hour, 

 coffee, sugar, and so on. !So far as mui\itions are concerned, 

 it is being u.sed for explosives, machine gun belting, camou- 

 rtage material, as well as for webbing aud similar articles. 



