156 



But although the use of the preservative is chiefly directed to- 

 wards the keeping of table fruit, it might be applied quite as ad- 

 vantageously to cider fruit. Many cider apples and pears, in 

 spite of the great resistance of their anatomical structure, as com- 

 pared with that of the garden varieties, have just as much need of 

 protection. The greatest enemy to cider apples intended to be 

 kept for a long time is rot. It originates in the same way as on 

 eating-apples, and there can be no doubt that the same treatment 

 will produce the same results on similar subjects. We repeat the 

 mode of procedure. Plunge for ten minutes in cold water con- 

 taining 3 per cent, of formalin. A tub or a cask cut in halves 

 will serve for the purpose of a bath. Take out the fruit, and drain 

 and dry on trays, then place in the storeroom as usual, putting on 

 one side for comparison a lot of the same species and weight 

 which have not been sterilised. The expense of this new method 

 of conservation is quite insignificant, and the profits must be very 

 high if the fruit will keep for some time in a perfect state as is 

 alleged ; and if the treatment can be as successfully carried out 

 with the more delicate garden fruits, it will become of immense 

 importance, and affect every species under the sun. 



COCO-NUT BUD ROT DISEASE. 



Coco-nut trees are often unproductive for various reasons, and 

 they die from diseases due to different causes. But for some years 

 it has been evident that a specific disease has been attacking these 

 trees independently of unsatisfactory or unhealthy conditions. 



This is known now as the " bud-rot" disease, from its habit 

 of attacking those portions of the tree which are in the young, 

 immature, or bud stage. 



The flowers, while still in a very immature stage of budding, 

 are most liable to attack ; but instances also occur where the "cab- 

 bage" is first attacked while the tree is in full bearing and shows 

 no sign of disease. As the " cabbage" is the vegetative bud of 

 the whole tree on which its life depends, the disease is fatal when 

 it reaches it. 



The appearance of the flowers is well known. There are several 

 long branches, covered with numerous small flowers, which con- 

 tain pollen only, and a few larger knob-like flowers, which gra- 

 dually grow and become coco-nuts. 



The flowers and branches are at first all enclosed in a sheath or 

 spathe, and in this condition the whole thing is commonly called 

 a "sword." The earliest appearance of the "sword" is as a small 

 protuberance just above the base of the leaf-stalk. 



The disease is most liable to attack the tree when the " swords" 

 first bud out. If it attacks these when they first appear, the pro- 

 bability is that they rot away without growing much, and the tree 

 has the appearance of being sterile. Or, it may insinuate itself 

 at a later stage, and grow up amongst the flowers possibly even 

 without affecting the outer sheath. The effect is to cause the nuts 



