270 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



August 1G, 1913. 



FUNGUS NOTES. 



RECENT FRENCE WORK ON DISEASES 

 OF HEVEA AND CACAO. 



In a paper published in the BulUtin Trim'stvial de la 

 Socu'ti' Mycolngiqne de France, (iritfon and Maublanc refer 

 to P. Henning s account (1904) of a leaf disease of /Ie>'ea 

 /,);isi/ieiisis caused by Dothldella tVe/, well known in the 

 higher valley of the Amazon. Recently, the authors have 

 investigated the same species collected in another region near 

 Balem'^(Para). at the mouth of the Amazon. Although 

 CrilVon and Maublanc's description of the perithecia agrees 

 with Henning's, the French investigators were unable to 

 observe the pycnidia referred to by Henning as thf apoj- 

 phii-riacious stage. They found, however, masses of immature 

 asci in the stroma, and fructitications composed of very small 

 cylindrical spores, much smaller than those of Aj>okj./<'i->-ui 

 Ult), Henn. They also noticed another form of conidium of 

 the Scolecothricum type related to the perithecial stage of 

 Dothidella. 



The authors conclude that D. Ulei, with its ditierent 

 forms of fructifications, is certainly a parasite of the leaves of 

 Hevea, but it does not seem to cause any great amount of 

 harm. On well developed tree-s the ravnges are without 

 doubt almost insignificant. Plants in the nursery seem to 

 suffer most. The specimens examined by the author=i had 

 been collected from seedlings growing under these conditions. 



to a greater or less eatent in every municipality, and practi- 

 cally every barrio o( the Islands, includes the production 

 and preparation of a very large number of vegetable fibres, 

 which comprise the most important exi'ort jToduct of the 

 territory, and include a great variety of materials that enter 

 into the domestic economy of the people. 



In connexion with the above observation.'', reference 

 may be made to van Hall's account in 190S in bulletin 

 No. 24, of Department van den Landbouw, Suriname, of 

 a fungus attack on Hevea trees in the nursery of the Botanic 

 Gardens. The disease produced a spotting of the leaves, 

 which spread in concentric circles. Only young leaves were 

 attacked. Trees situated under favourable surroundings 

 appeared not to be susceptible. The name of the causative 

 fungus was not definitely stated. 



Funpi living as saprophytes on the branches of cacao 

 trees in the island of Perroquets,at the estuary of the Gabon, 

 are remarked upon in an article published in the Journal. 

 d' Ayr tciilt lire Tropica i e (^Hy 31, 1913). During 191112, the 

 trees in a certain district suffered severely from drought, 

 and eventually exhibited a large number of dead branches. 

 On these branches was observed a vigorous growth of fungi 

 apparently belonging to tlie Polyporaceae. The chief one 

 present was iduiitified by Hariot as //eaii/onia difi'<'poda, 



Pat. a species well known throughout trojiical Africa. 



Hariot believed it to be only .saprophytic. The diseased 

 branches were burnt. 



In regard to indigenous cacao on the Gold Coast, the 

 same article mentions the recent observation, by MM. V. 

 Henri, of the presence of MaroKr/iius xcanden!:. which forms 

 little black filaments around the branches and trunks of the 

 trees growing in shaded situations. 



THE PHILIPPINE FIBRE INDUSTRY. 



The editorial article in a recent number of the FInlip- 

 pine Agrifiillural /?»";>)« (April 1913) gives an interesting 

 summary of the progress and condition of the fibre industry 

 in the Philippines, and mentions the more important of the 

 fibre plants cultivated. This indu.-try, which is carried on 



M.VNIL.V HEMP. 



Manila hemp (Abaca as it is locally known), the 

 most important fibre in the Philippine Islands, has for a 

 number of years co^iprised approximatel}- two-thirds of 

 the total export trade. The present condition of the 

 Manila industry, however, is said to be not satisfac- 

 tory. This is attributed tf) a monopoly in the production of 

 the fibre by the Philippine planters, who failed to introduce 

 improved methods either in working their plantations or in 

 the preparation of the fibre for market. Consequently many 

 of the plantations are in badly run-down condition, and 

 large quantities of inferior fibre are being produced. The plan- 

 ters, however, are coming to realize the needs of the situa- 

 tion, and there is a strong demand for assistance in the work 

 of introducing improvements. This demand is proposed to 

 be met in the immediate future by the establishment of 

 a CO operative demonstration station in the heart of the abacd- 

 producing district of southern Luzon. Other stations will be 

 started as rapidly as the necessary arrangements can be 

 made. These stations will serve as headquarters for the 

 demonstration of improved methods, and from them trained 

 inspectors will be sent out to assist and instruct the planters 

 on their own farms. 



,M Aca EV. 



The fibre second in commercial importance to abaca is 

 maguey. The maguey industry suffered during the past few 

 years from prevailing low prices, but is reported to be in 

 a greatly improved condition at present. The most vital 

 feature of this industry is the question of introducing modern 

 fibre-cleaning machines. Such machines have been perfected 

 and are available, but their profitable operation requires 

 a larger supply of raw material than the individual Philippine 

 maguey planter is in a position to furnish. 



K.Al'OK. 



Another fibre of increasing importance in the Philippines 

 is kapok, sometimes called 'tree cotton". This fibre is coming 

 into very general use as a material for filling cushions, 

 mattresses and other articles. The demand for kapok already 

 exceeds the supply; prices are high, and this fibre has a very 

 promising future. Kapok trees are found scattered 

 throughout the length and breadth of the Philippine 

 Archipelago, and the conditions are said to be entirely suitable 

 for their more general planting. A large part of the fibre 

 now produced is wasted, but it is believed that as the value 

 of this product becomes better known, it will be more 

 generally utilized, and kapok trees will probably be planted 

 to a considerable extent as a secondary crop. 



FUTIT.K DEVEUirMKXT. 



There are many other fibres that are largely used locally 

 and are of some importance to the inter-island trade. The 

 develoi)meiit and improvement of abaci, maguey, and kapok, 

 however, receive first attention. Each one of these industries 

 has its own special features, but the general problem is the 

 same fur all, this problem being the definite ascertaining of 

 such improvements as it may be practicable for the Philippine 

 farmer to introduce, and then to transmit this information in 

 such a way that it can be utilized. 



