FUNGOUS DISEASES IN SHIPMENTS OF SUGAR CANE. 9 



Mr. Noel Deerr states that — 



In the typical form of "sereh" the stool of cane consists of a number of short stalks 

 with very short joints; the buds, especially those below, sprout, whereby results a 

 bundle of short stems hidden in a mass of leaves. The whole stool bears a resemblance 

 to lemon grass (Andropogon schoenanthus) , the Ja\anese term for which is "sereh." 

 In a second type one or two stalks may grow to a fair size with very short joints in the 

 upper part; above all is a fan-shaped leaf crown; many of the eyes, especially those 

 below, sprout and form small branches. * * * x red coloration of the fibrovas- 

 cular bundles is a characteristic of "sereh." This coloration is most pronounced in 

 the node, but often appears in the internode in the form of a red stripe. This appear- 

 ance is quite distinct from the red patch with white center characteristic of the red-rot 

 of the stem. 



A point of great interest with this disease is the difference of opinion as to its infective 

 nature. The disease certainly spread from district to district in Java, but, conversely, 

 healthy sticks planted in an affected field remained healthy. Whether infectious or 



Fig. 4. — Smut disease of sugar cane. (After Butler.) 



not, the disease was found to be hereditary; that is to say, canes planted from sound, 

 healthy seed gave healthy canes, but tops derived from sereh-struck canes became 

 equally infected. 



THE PINEAPPLE DISEASE. 



The pineapple disease {Thielaviopsis jMradoxa (De Seyn.) V. Holm) 

 was first studied by Dr. Went in Java m 1893. Since that time it 

 has been found also in Mauritius, British Guiana, the West Indies, 

 Hawaii, and was reported from Louisiana in 1910. Mr. Butler 

 reported that up to 1906 he had fornid the pineapple disease in Bengal 

 on only three occasions and these were on cane which had been 

 imported from Java and Mauritius for seed. This disease is one 

 which chiefly attacks the planted cuttings, the fungus being a woimd 

 parasite. Considerable damage is caused wherever this disease is 

 90341°— Cir. 126—13 2 



