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On Saturday, April 18th, I returned to the mainland, and from 
Achill visited, by cycle, various localities for collecting. Parts of 
Achill Sound, Bellacraghy Bay, and Mallaranny a Clew Bay - 
provided interesting and very. luxuriant specimens. short time 
was also spent collecting 
oth on Clare Island = on the mainland, considerable atttention 
exposure of the coast, nature of substratum, light, depth and 
salinity of water, and other points of biological importance. 
A. D, C. 
‘Die-back’ of Hevea brasiliensis—An account of this disease is 
given in Circular No. 23, Royal Botanic Gardens, Ceylon, 
Mr. T. Petch. When first observed it was essentially a disease 
attacking young trees from one to two years old. ecently, 
however, it has assumed a more serious aspect, attacking trees from 
nine to fourteen years old, and in some cases it has killed these with 
astonishing rapidity. The disease kills back the tree from the 
top, the leading shoot being attacked first at some distance below 
the apex. e place attacked becomes dark brown, and this 
discoloration enauatly extends over the whole shoot, while the 
leaves fall off as the fungus reaches them. The brown patch is 
frequently rather soft, but hardens afterwards and turns grey. The 
fungus causing this disease forms its fruit just beneath the 
epidermis, which is raised in very minute swellings that burst at 
the top and liberate the spores, leaving minute holes which make 
the shoot rough. The fungus is called Glocosporium capabipst i. 
Petch. If the dead top shoot is cut off, the tree sends up a 
leader, and but little damage is done. If neglected, the “ dis-baake ” 
frequently continues down the stem until it reaches the root, and 
the tree is 
The dibense 4 is complicated by the attack of a second ivi of 
fungus. After the death of the leading shoot, the second fun 
Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Griff. & Maubl. (= Diplodia habia 
ergs and Diplodia cacavicola, Henn.), may enter the dead shoot, 
grow downwards in the woody stem, gradually killing it down 
to the base. From the above account it will be seen that the 
disease is primarily due to the Gloeosporium, and heen sper by the 
Lasiodiplodia, The latter fungus can also live on dead leaves and 
dead stems of Hevea, hence promptitude in atte ing such is 0 
primary importance, and the removal of dead branches should also 
be attended to. All diseased material should be promptly burned. 
en branches are removed the wounded surface should be 
tarred to prevent the entrance of fungi. For some undetermined 
reason, the fungus does not attack the tapped surface. : 
G. M. 
A se oe tery cern 
