54 HISTORY AND CAUSE OF THE COCONUT BUD-EOT. 



While it appears probable from the studies of the WTiter that 

 insects are the carriers of infection, it is still of the utmost importance 

 that this matter be ascertained definitely. 



REMEDIAL AND PREVENTIVE EXPERIMENTS. 



In the early part of this work the writer had before him as the 

 picture of bud-rot the conception most general among planters and 

 investigators, that of a soft-rotted condition of the bud. Almost at 

 a single glance one could state definitely that a tree in such a diseased 

 condition had no hope of being cured either by indirect or direct 

 methods. The single growing point of the tree being rotted, there 

 was no power within the tree to produce another growing point. 



In order to ascertain if the disease did not attack other tissues 

 before getting into the heart or growing pomt, the writer repeatedly 

 ascended many trees to the summit, and there made careful observa- 

 tions on the condition of the central leaves during the course of a 

 year, as has been noted on other pages. 



A month or so after the first examination it was observed in some 

 cases that trees which had been free from rot m the center became 

 badly diseased. It commonly happened in such trees that one or 

 more flower spikes just opening revealed dark-browTi wilted tips. 

 Trees were also found with these discolored flower spikes and with 

 healthy central leaves. This condition suggested the idea of remov- 

 ing the one diseased spike and watching further development. This 

 was done, as shown in the following record: 



Tree No. 96. 



March 7, 1908: The tree had 5 spikes of nuts and 1 good sword visible from the 

 ground. 



May 28: Nine fairly good spikes and two good swords were found. 



June 8: Same condition. 



June 25: There were 9 spikes, bearing about 100 nuts, and 4 good swords. One 

 spike mth nuts just set showed dark-brown water-soaked tissue at its base — the only 

 sign of disease in the tree. The middle leaves were healthy. The diseased spike 

 and the adjacent tissues were cut out. Owing to the compactness of the leaf bases 

 and their strainers at the base of the crown it was impossible to say (hat the infec- 

 tion may not have been carried to other parts. No satisfactory means of disinfecting 

 the whole crown was at hand. 



July 21: One of the green swords had become brown and dead. Six of the nut 

 spikes were empty. 



July 24: Of the 100 nuts on June 25 there remained about 40. Removed by prun- 

 ing the dead sword and all of the spikes having no nuta, together with their subtending 

 leaves. In all, cut off 19 leaves and 10 spikes. There were left 7 good leaves and 

 2 green swords. The central leaves were still healthy. 



Augusts: No change. 



October 21: The two swords as well as the middle leaves were brown and dead. 

 There was a soft rot in the heart tissues. 

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