138 



to young plants, in Java, it is worthy of consideration and should 

 be carefully looked for. 



47. It is caused by a fungus — a species of Pestalozzia and may 

 be recognised by the yellowish spots on the leaflets especially 

 near their tips. These spots gradually increase in size, the distal 

 leaflets of the leaf turn yellow, then brown, and eventually die. 

 When the leaflets for the terminal 2 or 3 feet of the leaf have 

 died, this portion breaks off and hangs vertically downwards 

 from the end of a dying leaf. This is characteristic of the disease 

 and is probably due to the weight of the dead tip causing it to 

 break off. The spots on the leaves become a greyish colour and 

 bear on their upper surfaces the spores of the fungus, 



48. These spores are capable of distribution by wind or rain 

 and are capable of infecting another leaf directly, provided that 

 sufficient moisture and air be present. They send small tubes into 

 the tissues of the leaves, which destroy them and eventually cause 

 the death of small spots. By an attack of a large number of spots 

 the leaflet is wholly killed out. 



49. This fungus — Pestalozzia sp. is frequently but not always 

 accompanied by another fungus — Diplodia epicocos, the fructifica- 

 tions of which may be observed as small black spots generally 

 along the veins of the leaflets near the midrib or on the petioles, but 

 experiments so far indicate that it is either saprophytic or only 

 completes destruction commenced by Pestalozzia. More work how- 

 ever is necessary in this direction in order to fully establish the 

 connexion between the action of these lwo fungi, if there be any. 



50. Spread of this disease is accomplished by means of wind 

 and rain and, therefore, besides making every effort to keep the 

 coco-nut trees healthy and vigorous by improved cultural methods 

 all sources of infection should be removed as they may be the 

 cause of considerable damage during an unfavourable season. 



The following remedial measures are recommended : — 



(a.) All dead trees should be cut down and, with diseased 

 leaves, &c, should be destroyed, preferably by fire. 



(b.) Isolated trees, that show signs of disease, should be 

 marked, carefully watched and all leaves that become 

 attacked, cut out and burned. 



(e.) All plants in the diseased area should, as a preventive, 

 be sprayed repeatedly with Bordeaux mixture, particular 

 attention being given to the more delicate leaves. 



51. A bud-rot disease was noticed in isolated cases in the 

 Cedros district and had apparently caused the death of many 

 palms on the Savannah in the Siparia district. 



52. The cause of the trouble is somewhat obscure. The roots 

 and stem of the palms appear to be quite healthy while the bud 

 is involved in a vile soft rot. In one instance a fungus was 

 present in the advancing margin of the disease but generally 

 bacteria were the only organisms present. Three kinds of 

 bacteria were noticed and two of them had previously been found 

 in trees that were suffering from other causes. On no occasion 



