from the attack of a soil fungus which was not identified. Slight 

 attacks of the root disease were noticeable in many comparatively 

 healthy fields in other parts of the Island. The rind disease was also 

 present to some extent in some of the fields. 



In the report for 1909, Fawcett reported "that root disease of 

 cane caused by the attacks of various organisms is quite prevalent, 

 especially on poorly drained fields of old ratooned cane. Two of 

 the fungi reported as prominent in causing this disease, {Marasmius 

 sacchari and the stellate-crystal fungus have been found. Up to 

 this time the latter fungus has been noticed only on old leaf-sheaths, 

 never on freshly decaj^ed roots. * * * The rind disease is com- 

 mon but as it is invariably found following the attacks of stalk-borers 

 and does not affect plants except those already spoiled by these insects, 

 it is hardly to be considered. For the pineapple disease which des- 

 troys the new planted seed cuttings, dipping of the seed cane in 

 Bordeaux mixture is practiced on some of the large plantations with 

 results reported as successful. ' ' 



A bulletin (63) of the Mayagiiez Station published in 1910 devotes 

 a page to a general discussion of diseases of the sugar cane, stating 

 that the root and pineapple diseases occur in Porto Rico, and referring 

 the former to Marasmius pUcatus, an error. 



During the same year ]\Ir. John R. Bovell, Superintendent of the 

 Local Department of Agriculture of Barbados visited Porto Rico at 

 the invitation of Guanica Centrale, confining his studies to the fields 

 of that company. In liis report (9) he lists the following diseases 

 found attacking the cane: 



Root disease Marasmius sacchari Wakker. 



Stem (red-rot) disease Colletotrichum falcatum Weut. 



IMneapple disease Thielaviopsis paradoxa (De Seyues) v. Holn. 



Rind disease Afehmconinm socchari Mass. 



Ring spot Leptosphaeiia sacchari v. B. de H. 



A general discussion follows of the value of producing new seed- 

 ling varieties, of the necessity of cleaning badly diseased fields of 

 all infected material (the burning of trash is recommended), of the 

 proper methods of cultivating, and of treating seed. The use of 

 legumes, in particular of cowpeas, is recommended as well as tlie 

 making of silage of cane tops. The report concludes with notes on 

 the prevalence and symptoms of each of the diseases listed. 



Work on the diseases of sugar cane was taken up at the Experi- 

 ment Station of the Sugar Producers' Association of Porto Rico in 

 November, 1910, as already noted, and the first report (45) of i)ro- 

 gress was published in the following year. This included a general 



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