54 



river, some twenty-five villages have reported the presence of the 

 disease. 



In the early period of the epidemic, the opinion was held by 

 many of the local officials and prominent landholders that insects 

 particularly a large (cockchafer) grub which is common enough in 

 diseased trees, were the cause of death. But it is certain that they 

 have nothing to do with it, for the whole nature of the disease is 

 opposed to such a view, and a number of trees in the early stages 

 were examined without finding the grub. The sharp limitation of 

 the affected locality such as is found, for instance, near Yanam 

 and Kolanka, joined to the slow spread through an almost con- 

 tinuous area, shows an infection by some germ incapable of rapid 

 transmission. Most of the persons with whom I discussed the 

 disease had already given up the idea that it is due to insects. 



The extent of the damage can only very roughly be estimated- 

 Along the Amalpur east bank canal seventy-six per cent, of one 

 hundred and thirty consecutively counted palms were dead. This 

 was a very bad place. In a similar line near Kolanka thirty per 

 cent, were dead. Elsewhere every proportion down to few or no 

 dead trees was seen. Possibly about ten per cent, of the palmyra 

 palms of the above mentioned area have been killed. The trees 

 are said to be worth from one to two rupees per annum, and the 

 loss already sustained, though much less than that due to the 

 Sylhet betel palm plague, must run into lakhs. 



The most serious aspect of the matter is the fact that coco-nut 

 palms are undoubtedly subject to infection. In Ramachandrapu- 

 ram taluka few cases only were seen, but in Amalpuram they are 

 numerous, though fewer than in the palmyra. This is perhaps due 

 to their hardier tissues which oppose a barrier to infection. In one 

 locality some two hundred dead coco-nut trees were seen ; else- 

 where only a dozen or two. The danger is that the disease may 

 increase in virulence in regard to coco-nut palms if allowed to 

 rage unchecked, and this is the most urgent reason why prompt 

 measures to stamp it out are called for. A few betel palms were 

 found attacked apparently by the same disease, but the cases were 

 too far gone for satisfactory examination. 



As in the other palm diseases above described, the symptoms 

 are such that it can be recognised fairly easily. Most of the pro- 

 prietors were able to point out even the early cases, their statements 

 being checked by cutting down a number of the palms indicated, 

 The earliest sign is an alteration in colour of one of the leaves, 

 usually one of those recently expanded towards the centre of the 

 bud. This turns white and soon afterwards commences to wither. 

 Other leaves are attacked in turn, the heart of the bud is reached 

 and the whole top withers and falls off, the last stage often being 

 reached only after a considerable time. In coco-nut palms the 

 same general course is followed, but here if the nuts have been 

 formed before the attack becomes severe, they are often dropped 

 prematurely. No new nuts are formed once the characteristic 

 symptoms show. No case of absolute recovery was met with, but 



