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several trees will be attacked in sequence. The first sign of attack 
is one or more of the main branches having a wilted appearance 
and shedding their leaves ; other branches soon follow and generally 
in less than two months a magnificent tree will be dead. The 
majority of those attacked are about 100 feet tall with a trunk 4 to 
5 feet in diameter. I have noticed, however, a few younger and 
smaller trees also attacked and killed. 
‘ Specimen no. 6 is interesting, inasmuch as it comes from a tree 
that had apparently been killed. In cutting it down I noticed that 
some branches about 10 feet from the ground were quite healthy. I 
therefore had the trunk cut off above the live portion, and to-day 
these branches are growing vigorously. 
“The method of combating the disease (so far with but little 
success) has been to cut trenches around the tree and dust with 
lime and sulphate of copper. ing, however, to the road inter- 
vening on the one side, and a ditch on the other, the trenches have 
been simply divisions between the trees only. Doubtless the 
mycelium has travelled under the road.” 
e fungi have been examined at Kew. Four of the specimens 
were found to be Polystictus occidentalis, Fries, and the two other 
specimens were Polystictus floridanus, Berk., and Schizophyllum 
mmune, Fries, 
Of these, Polystictus occidentalis is the only parasitic species, and 
but little is known respecting its life history; judging from analogy, 
_ however, it seems probable that its diffusion can be effected by 
wind-borne spores or by underground mycelium spreading from one 
tree to another. No cure for the disease is known. It is possible 
that the trees, which are large and presumably old, are becoming 
too weak to supply the required amount of food and water to the 
branches, and hence are all the more liable to succumb to the 
Manihot preciosa.—In the Report of the Agricultural Depart- 
ment, Gold Coast for 1908, p. 24, a reference is made to a 
Manicoba rubber under the name of Manihot precosa planted in 
ae e are informed by the Governor, through the courtesy of 
the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the name in question 
should be Manthot preciosa, and that this name has been applied to 
a variety of Manihot by Mr. Schindler, of Bahia, Brazil, who 
sent 2 the Gold Coast the seeds from which the plants have been 
raised. 
Allusion to this supposed species of Manihot is also made by 
Thompson in his report on Gold Coast Forests—Col. Rep., Mise. 66, 
1910, pp. 12-13—where it is stated that the plants are said to yield 
rubber at a very early age, a statement which it has not yet been 
possible to verify. 
