126 



by selection of disease-resistant varieties, and therefore it may be 

 a matter of the greatest importance to make further observations 

 in this direction, as the selection of a resistant race of coco-nut 

 may prove of the utmost importance in combating this disease. 

 During my visits through the different parts of the island, I made 

 careful observations and inquiries in this direction, but I am 

 unable to say with confidence whether any varieties of coco-nut 

 are disease-resistant. Several planters state that a variety known 

 as the "Green-Spanish" is very hardy and is able to withstand 

 attacks much longer than other varieties. From personal obser- 

 vation in the badly diseased districts it would appear as if all 

 varieties are attacked, but if every coco-nut planter would note 

 the comparative resistance of the various varieties, considerable 

 advance in this direction might soon be made. 



In conclusion it should be stated that in cases where the fungus 

 has completely devastated large areas, the trees should not be 

 allowed to stand and rot, for it would only be a nursery for the 

 development and spread of the disease, and seeing that such 

 varying conditions of soil and climate, etc.. exist in the coco-nut 

 districts it is not supposed that all the remedial measures suggested 

 will be applicable to every plantation. Therefore, it must be left 

 to the planters themselves to choose those which they, from local 

 experience, think to be the most applicable to their own particular 

 conditions. The destruction of all diseased material on systematic 

 lines, however, should be practised by all, for it is expected that 

 by such co-operation the injury would soon be mitigated to a large 

 extent and the disease kept well in hand. 



Section 2 (a).— LEAF DISEASE. 



23. Many trees are noticed which have leaves that appear to be 

 drooping and with the tips of the distal leaflets of a greyish 

 colour. An external examination of the leaflet shows that whereas 

 the tip is quite dry and dead and that many parts of the edges of 

 the leaflet are in a similar condition, there are small yellowish 

 spots, more or less regular in shape, which may be observed to 

 increase in area (spreading centrifugally from a point in a more 

 or less circular manner), scattered about the leaflet. These areas 

 may be observed to increase gradually in size and not infrequently 

 to run into one another, forming irregular blotches, which often 

 eventually cover the greater portion of the surface of the leaflet. 



During the growth of the spots, they gradually change from a 

 yellowish colour to a greyish white, and each is bordered by a 

 margin which is of a dark colour, generally an intense greenish- 

 brown. At first, therefore, it is easy to recognise the various 

 " diseased spots" for in each the oldest part is always in the 

 centre and as we proceed outwards from this, each successive ring 

 has been more lately attacked than the last. This can be seen by 

 the fact that the centres of the spots always become grey first while 

 rings of yellow of varying degrees of intensity can be noticed 

 outwards from this grey centre. 



