44 



HISTORY AND CAUSE OF THE COCONUT BUD-EOT. 



formed by the organism used in the inoculation. Comparison of the 

 various cultures showed about half to be alike in their reaction in 

 litmus milk. Several of the organisms were inoculated into various 

 vegetables, and in a few cases good rots were obtained in cucumbers. 



From this work it seemed most probable that the organism causing 

 the bud-rot was the one which formed the tliin, very much branched 

 type of colony. Cultures of it were taken to Cuba in August, 1909, 

 and inoculated into various trees. As wUl be seen in Table III, none 

 of these cultures had any effect whatever in rotting the trees. 



At this time other isolations were made from naturally diseased 

 trees, and inoculations were made with these as indicated in Table III. 



Table III. — Inoculations of coconut trees, August 9 to 14, 1909. 



iNot Inoculated. 



Table III shows that various successful infections were again 

 made, and also that at this time, as in the spring of 1908, the inocu- 

 lations were made with a variety of organisms. In more detail than 

 is given in the table the results of these inoculations are as follows: 



No. 505 was examined 13 days after the inoculation and showed an excellent soft, 

 white rot extending a distance of 60 centimeters above the inoculation hole. 



No. 502 was examined after 13 days, when it showed a very soft, white rot about 

 the inoculation hole, but it was not very extensive. 



No. 508 was examined after 12 days, when it showed a splendid soft, white rot. 

 The lower part of the inoculation hole was entirely reduced to a thick white liquid. 

 One of the inner swords was blackened at the tip in the interior. The inoculation 

 passed 3 to 4 centimeters above the heart tissues, in the best possible place, and took 

 effect. The resulting rot extended about 45 centimeters above the hole and also 

 down into the heart tissues. The middle leaves of this tree some distance above 

 the inoculation were in a perfectly healthy condition. 



No. 507 was examined after 12 days, when it showed a fair rot in one of the inner 

 Bwords. 



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