242 



in Kew Bulletin, Vol. 1893, p. 41, and on examination of specimens I 

 found Bacteria and Fungi, in large quantity on diseased leaves and 

 tissues. A Fungus provisionally determined as a Pestalozzia. was 

 found on the leaves. It was recommended in the report from this 

 Department that the services of the mycologist of the Imperial 

 Department of Agriculture should be secured, and action has been 

 taken by the Government for that purpose. 



Sir Daniel Morris, K.C.M.G., while passing on his way from 

 Jamaica, visited my office, and 1 had the opportunity of showing him 

 what I had found and of describing the condition of the trees 

 viva race. After a full discussion, it was decided by Sir Daniel that 

 it would be better in the first place for his star!' to begin by the 

 examination of the infected material, and for that purpose a large 

 supply has been kindly sent up by the owner of the estate, which was 

 forwarded to Barbados, by mail ot 4th October. After this has been 

 carefully examined, it is intended to make (if necessary) a full field 

 examination. It is ot course yet too early to say what is the real 

 cause of the death of the trees, but the investigation now commenced 

 under direction of the Government will, it is hoped, result in deter- 

 mining the cause, and providing a cure if possible : or failing that, 

 suggest preventive measures which will mitigate the evil. 



Bud Rot Disease in Coconuts. Gulf Coast, 1905. 



Preliminary Report, by Mi;. J. H. Hart. 



[Bead before The Agricultural Society, 12th September, 1905, 



In accordance with instructions I proceeded on 17th instant to 

 La Retraite Estate, Cedros, to make enquiries as to the state of a 

 disease reported to exist among coconut plantations on the Gull Coast. 



2. Under the guidance of Mr. Greig, I examined the fields, 

 witnessed the cutting down of a typically infected tree, and personally 

 dissected and secured Iromitthe necessary specimens for microscopical 

 observation. 



3. My observations lead me to conclude that the Plantation 

 itself affords distinct evidence that there has been for many years a 

 succession of deaths among the trees on certain areas which latter 

 appear to have been replanted several times over. In my opinion 

 this is strong evidence that the disease is not new but has been 

 present in more or less severity for years. 



4. A primary microscopical examination shows Bacteria in great 

 quantity in the affected paits and especially in the heart, or growing 

 portion of the tree. One of these which is seen in the greatest 

 number is similar to the Bacterium causing Tetanus or lock-jaw, {i.e.) 

 drumstick shaped. The tree examined was found to be infected from 

 the ground upwards and when the stem was cut through a ring of 



