208 



The gathered crop was treated in the following way. 'J'lu 

 panicles, cut close to the hase of the spikelets, were broughr in in 

 l)askets and put in heaps of ten, then in heaps of lOU to get an 

 exact count of the crop. The whole dav'-s gathering was then ex- 

 posed to the sun on a concrete floor and after a few hours drying, 

 the whole was trodden under with the feet, the right foot being 

 now and again used in a twisting motion to tear the spikelets 

 asunder. The result was a mixture of husks, of nerves of panicles, 

 and of grain which was then taken U]) on trays, the ordinary 

 " neerus " of the country — and there, after three circular motions 

 and a final jerk upward, the seed, absolutely clean, was dropped in 

 a l)asket in front, the remaining waste being thrown aside. This 

 wx)rk requires great deftness of hand and tamil women excel at it. 



E. Matiiiku. 



{To he rontiniifi'L ) 



Coconut Bud Rot. 



The Philippine Journal of Science Vol: XIV. No. 1, January, 

 1919 contains a valuable addition to our knowledge of the disease 

 known as "bud rot" which causes such severe losses of coconut 

 trees throughout the tropics. ^Ir. Otto A. Eeinking after giving 

 a short history of the symptoms of the disease gives in detail his 

 investigations both in the laboratory and the field. In his conclu- 

 sions he states that the actual cause of the disease is a fungus Phy- 

 fophtJiora Faheri Maubl. which in the majoritv of cases is quickly 

 followed by bacteria which rapidly destroy the weakened tissues, 

 causing the familiar rot. 



As the fungus is the saine that attacks coconut seedlings, cacao 

 fruit, Hevea rubber seedlings, and papava fruit, and as it is im- 

 possible to cure trees badly infected he gives the following instruc- 

 tions : — 



1. Systematic inspection, condenming and burning of all dis- 

 eased coconut trees. 



2. All parts of diseased trees must be burned, other\\ase the 

 organism will live as a saprophyte on dead matter, and then spread 

 to healthy trees. 



3. Clean cultivation ought to be practised in all groves. 



4. Under no circumstances should coconuts be interplanted 

 with cacao or papayas. 



3. If coconuts are planted near diseased Hevea rubber, pre- 

 cautions should be taken to avoid the spread of the disease. 



G. Trees in new groves must be ])lanted 10 meters apart each 

 way. This spacing is one of the most satisfactoiy means of control 

 against Imd rot, and at the same time tends to give the highest 

 production of nuts. 



T. F. C. 



