21 



In and around these holes and perforating the entire upper part of 

 the trunk for 2 to 10 inches downward was found the m3^celium of a 

 fungus, the fruiting bodies of which came forth as small white spots 

 on the under sides of the leaves and which might easily, on hasty exam- 

 ination, be confounded with Aspidiotus scales which were often found 

 there. 



This parasitic fungus has been identified by Mrs. F. W. Patterson, 

 mycologist, and Mr. A. F. Woods, pathologist, of the Department of 

 Agriculture, as Pestaloszia palmarum Cooke. They inform me that 

 though they have no record of the particular damage, " it is extremel}^ 

 probable that this fungus is the cause of the diseased condition of the 

 trees," as they have records of similar causes in other trees. 



Breaking off the lower leaves and cutting the center of the green 

 growling part open, the heart of the palm is found to be one putrid 

 offensive-smelling mass, filled with maggots of various scavenger flies. 

 By examining palms in various stages of sickness, it was found that the 

 putrefaction began within the sheet around tlie young still unfolded 

 flower stalks and gradually worked downward to the center of the 

 plant, and while the primary cause of the death of the palm undoubtedly 

 is the fungus, the nature and foul smell of the diseased parts seemed 

 to indicate some bacteriological influence, when the palm is already 

 weakened by the fungus and doomed to die. 



In from one to three months after first attack full destruction takes 

 place and the trunk stands naked, and though it is still fresh and appar- 

 ently sound, it soon disintegrates through the work of termites or white 

 ants and other insects. 



The fatal nature of the disease precludes a remedy for trees already 

 infected and leaves only the prevention of the spread of the disease as 

 the object for man's intervention. 



As the most natural means of preventing the spread of the disease, 

 the cutting down and burning up of the diseased palms suggests itself, 

 and Mr. A. F. Woods agrees that this is one of the best wavs of com- 

 batting it. In a small and necessarily incomplete way I satisfied 

 myself of the practical results of this preventive. Shortly after m}^ 

 arrival I observed one large grove with only two isolated dying palms. 

 These I had cut down at once and removed the infested parts to my 

 headquarters for examination. During my entire stay no more palms 

 in that grove showed signs of disease, although in other tracts with 

 sick palms left standing new cases of infestation were observed in 

 numbers every week. 



The procedure of felling and burning many palms may seem too 

 enormous an undertaking, but considering the interests at stake it is 

 a small matter and comparatively easy of execution. 



Without such drastic measures the present conditions and the i-apid 

 spreading of the disease certainly foreshadows total destruction of the 



