Vol. IX. No. 219, 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



299 



A HANDBOOK OF THE FUNGUS DISEASES OF 

 WEST INDIAN PLAXTS, By Keith Bancroft, B.A. 

 Geo. Fuli/mn <C- Sons, Ltd., Loivdon. 



This book, as its name indicates, contains, in a small 

 compass, a short account of each of the diseases of plants 

 grown in the West Indies, more especially of those which are 

 of economic importance The diseases are arranged according 

 to the systematic classification of the fungi causing them, and 

 not under the names of the various host plants. This does 

 not, however, in any way detract from the value of the book 

 to the practical agriculturist, as a complete inde.v is provided 

 •containing, in addition to the names of the causative fungi, 

 the popular names of all the host plants, and of the several 

 diseases to which each is subject. In the case of all the more 

 important of these, the account contains a careful description 

 of the field .symptoms, an outline of the treatment to be 

 followed, a technical diagnosis of the fungus, and one or 

 more references to papers dealing with it. A few points of 

 historical interest also appear. 



One feature of the introduction is a table showing the 

 geographical distribution of the principal fungi parasitic on 

 sugar-cane and cacao. There will also be found in it a short 

 account of various methods of treatment for disease, and 

 observations on one or two points requiring attention. ' The 

 first of the.se is in connexion with cacao canker, on which 

 subject considerable light has been shed by Mr. Rorer, in his 

 papers in two recent numbers of the Bulletin of the A'jricul- 

 tutal Department, Trinidad, Vol. IX, pp. .38 knd 79; these 

 accounts were unfortunately not issued until after Mr. Ban- 

 croffs liook was printed. A second point is the nomenclature 

 of the fungus causing die-back and brown rot of cacao, and 

 its po.ssible identity with that found on cocoa-nuts and on 

 Hevea, as well as on several other host plants. After 

 a general review of the jiosition, Mr. Bancroft has retaine<l 

 the old name, Diplodia cacaoicola, particularly as it helps 

 to avoid confusion. The discovery of a Fusarium stage in 

 its life-history is a matter of interest, as such a form is 

 often found on diseased cacao, associated with Diplodia 

 cacaoicola. A. third point is the possible identity of Thiela- 

 viopgis ethaceticus, the pine apple disease fungus of sugar-cane, 

 with a stage in the life-history of Tric/iosp/iaeria sacchari, the 

 rind fungus. In connexion with this, it may be pointed' out 

 that the growing opinion appears to be that the former is an 

 independent organism, though this point cannot be said to be 

 •definitely settled. 



It will be noted that, in many wa- s, this book clo.sely 

 .resembles a paper by the same author, published in the West 

 Indian Bulletin, Vol. X, p. 23-5. There are, however, certain 

 pomts of difference. In the first place, the book con- 

 tains accounts of some of the more important fungi 

 found on various host plants in other parts of the 

 tropical world; these are introduced naturally in connexion 

 either with crops well known in the West Indie.^ or with 

 genera of fungi, several of whose species are of wide-spread 



economic importance. The addition of these accounts, and 

 the SIX good plates at the end, add considerably to its value 

 from a mycologist's point of view. The contents of the 

 book also differ from the paper referred to, in that another 

 •system of classification has been employed throughout. Among 

 other, minor, points, it may be mentioned that Mr. Bancroft 

 attributes angular leaf spot of cotton to physiological causes, 

 and not to Bacillus nialvacearum. It is not easy to under- 

 stand the reason for thi.s, especially as he unfortunately gives 

 no reference.s, in this instance. It may also be pointed out 

 that several authorities in America are inclined to attri- 

 bute foot rot, or mal-di-gomma, of citrus trees rather to 

 physiological causes than to Fusarium limonis, as is done in 

 the work under review. Again, no mention is made of 

 the difficulties with regard to the bud rot disease of the cocoa- 

 nut palm, the Indian form attributed by Butler to Pythium 

 palm,yorum being regarded by some authors as probably 

 identical with that found in the West Indies and with that in 

 Ceylon The cause of the disease in the last two places is not 

 as yet definitely known, but there is a growing tendency to 

 regard It as of bacterial origin. It is also to be regretted 

 u . ui" ^*"'^'"°f' ^"i not see fit to include an account of 

 thread blights on cacao and mangos, or of the well-known 

 root disease of cacao, usually referred to in Trinidad as the 

 brown root disease; for although the fungi inducin.^ these 

 are not definitely identified, some account of their appear- 

 ance would have been useful. 



These matters are, however, comparatively unimportant. 

 On the whole, the book contains a most useful account of 

 the main fungoid troubles against which agriculturists in the 

 Uest Indies have to contend; and everyone engaged in 

 raising crops on a large scale w.,uld do well to possess 

 a copy. 



Publislied 



BRAZIL IN 191(J, By J. C. Oakenfull. 

 I>y the Author at St. Biideaux, Devonport. 



This book, which seems to form a very complete guide to 

 Brazil, IS edited by the Commission of Economic Expansion 

 of Brazil, I'aris. It contains 280 pages of matter, which 

 deals, in ordei; with the general natural features of the 

 country (Chapters I to III); its economic conditions, in 

 history and at the present time (Chapters IV to VIII); 

 particulars of its natural history and products, both vege- 

 table and mineral (Chapters IX to XIX); art and literature 

 (Chapter XX). The main portion of the book is followed by an 

 appendix, containing in six part.s, information such as will be 

 of more particular use to the immigrant, and relating to 

 salaries and cost of living; customs tariffs; details as to 

 industries and production; bibliography; terms used in 

 mineralogy; and the arrangements for the reception of 

 immigrants. It should be understood that this description 

 of the contents of the volume only forms a very broad out- 

 line, and that many sub-heads are included under the above 

 designations, each of which receives thorough treatment. 



The most useful part of the book to anyone who may be 

 studying the conditions in Brazil with a view to taking up 

 residence in that country is comprised in Chapters VIII to 

 XVIII, and in the appendix. In this part, as throughout, it 

 is well produced, with good illustrations; although there are 

 a few typographical errors, especially in regard to scientific 

 names. It can be recommended to all who desire to know 

 anything about Brazil, whether they are thinking of visiting 

 that country, or not. 



