139 



could it be established, with certainty, how the bacteria gain 

 an entrance or whether they are the primary cause of the trouble. 



53. In theSiparia district the spread of the disease was very rapid 

 but it is probable that more careful attention to cultivation, etc., 

 and prompt destruction of all diseased material would tend to 

 keep this disease well in hand. 



54. Finally it must be urged that in dealing with the diseases 

 of coco-nuts, the adoption of remedial measures must be carried 

 out systematically by all interested in coco-nut cultivation, 

 wherever the disease is present, in order that a check can be put 

 upon its spread, and I am of opinion that every planter of coco- 

 nuts should be made to carry out such remedial measures that 

 will suit his local conditions — at any rate he should be made to 

 destroy all dead trees on his grounds for, by co-operation of the 

 planters in this matter, it would be possible to check the diseases 

 and probably to eradicate them. 



I have the honour to be, 



Sir, 

 Your most obedient Servant, 



F. A. Stockdale, 



Sir Daniel Morris, K.C.M.G., Mycologist. 



Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture 

 for the West Indies. 



PRUNING COCOA. 



By W. CRADWICK, Travelling Instructor. 



Young Cocoa plants require no pruning until they commence to 

 " fork" or form a " crown ;" from this stage they require the most 

 careful watching, and the pruning should always be done on "the 

 little and often" system. As soon as the little branches peep out 

 from the " crown," they should be reduced to 3 ; that is, if there 

 are 4 little branches, cut out one ; if there are 5 cut out 2. If this 

 is done before they are 2 inches in length it does not make the 

 slightest difference which two are destroyed ; although a careful 

 pruner would always have his eyes open to select the two most 

 feeble ; destroy these and leave the three strongest to grow. This 

 is the most important pruning operation in the whole life of the 

 tree, and if done at this very early stage, the tree will always 

 grow well balanced. The young tree will from this time onward 

 require little pruning, except to remove suckers or gormandizers, 

 until the three branches commence to grow side branches ; as soon 

 as they do this, care and forethought must be exercised in the 

 highest degree in pruning the young trees. 



How far from the centre of the tree should the primary branches 

 be allowed to grow, before they are allowed to send out side 

 branches is a question asked me over and over again. No rule 

 can be laid down ; a powerful, strong growing tree, in rich soil, 

 well sheltered situation, can have the secondary branches removed 

 to a distance of 3 feet from the crown, other trees will be pruned 

 quite sufficiently if these are removed to a distance of a foot or 



