35 



Cocoa Pod Bot : Examples of rotting cocoa pods were seen at various 

 places. Apparently more than one species of fungus is concerned in this 

 rotting. This point will be reported on later. This rotting is not attract- 

 ing much attention, but with the Criollo variety at low altitudes, it is 

 certainly very serious and under certain conditions it is liable to prove 

 destructive to other kinds. Whether or not the blasting of tlie young poda 

 is due to the growth of a fungus could not be certainly determined. 

 This blasting occasions a very considerable loss especially to the fall crop. 



Cocoa Root Disease : There is trouble from the dying of cocoa trees on 

 certain areas. The roots examined all showed signs of having been gnawed 

 much as in the orange trouble, but in addition the injured were attacked 

 "by some fungus mycelium, Vv ant of time prevented a thorough investiga- 

 tion of this trouble. 



Cassava Boot Bot : It was stated by some labourers that cassava roots 

 rotted if planted on land where logwood trees had died. A Cassava patch 

 was examined that had been planted on such lands. A number of unthrifty 

 plants were noted, and on digging them up the roots were found to be en- 

 veloped in a white mycelium and to be rapidly rotting. Dead logwood 

 stumps were near these diseased plants. This was on a rather light, up- 

 land, red soil that was well adapted to the growth of cassava. The con- 

 nection between the cassava rut and the logwood root rot could only be in- 

 ferred. 



In conclusion I would say that this somewhat hasty reconnaissance dem- 

 strates the presence in Jamaica of a number of diseases of economic plants, 

 some at least of which are liable to prove destructive. The short time at my 

 disposal was not sufficient for a thorough study of any of these and the few 

 remedial and preventive measures suggested above are tentative only, and 

 are intended simply as the bases for field experiments. I would respect- 

 fully suggest to the Jamaica Government that the Agriciltural Department 

 can do no more useful or practical work than to provide for a furtherstudy 

 of these diseases. 



"While thus emphasizing the great importance of requiring a full know- 

 ledge of such diseases as do occur, I feel like congratulating the planters 

 of Jamaica on the fact that these serious diseases seem to be so few. Most 

 countries with equally diversified crops have to contend with a much greater 

 number. 



CASSAVA FROM COLOMBIA. 



Analyses of [Seventeen Varieties introduced from Colombia and grown by 

 Mr. Kobert Thomson, at Half Way Tree, Jamaica. 



By H. H. Cousins, M.A. (Oxon) F.C.S.Government and Agricultural 



Chemist 



Mr. Robert Thomson, formerly Superintendent of Publio Gardens in 

 Jamaica, has taken a leading part in urging the claims of Cassava as a food 

 product for and districts in the tropics as also a profitable source of starcli 

 and glucose for commercial purposes. At the instance of the Hon, Sydney 

 Olivier the Chairman of the Board of Agriculture, I was instructed to ar- 

 range with Mr. Thomson for the analysis of a unique collection of varie- 

 ties of Cassava brought by him from Colombia as a guide to tueir economic 

 value. 



This has been done, and as the results show these Colombian varieties are 

 marked by a very high Starch content and are practically free from prus- 

 sio aciA. These varieties were grown at Half Way Tree on the Liguanea 



