146 JOURNAL OP THE TRINIDAD 



3. Spilotes pvllatus, (L) var B. 



Boulenger, Cat., Snakes Brit. Mus., vol. ii, page 23. 



Mole and Urich, I.e., page 84, (Coluber variabilis). 



Entirely black, only the ventrals of the anterior portion of the two- 

 thirds of the body (about from 140 — 160th ventral) partly yellow. 



Squ. 16 G 2/2 V 224 A 1 Sc 108/108 & 1. 

 ,, 16 ,, 2/2 „ 224 ,, 1 ,, 108/109 & 1. 



4. Oxybclis acuminatus, ("Weid). 



Squ. 17 G 3/4 V 188 A 1/1 Sc 178/178 & 1 



BATRACHIA. 



5. Bufo marinus, L. 



From this small collection we can already draw the conclusion 

 with some certainty, that Tobago, which is very likely, was in 

 former times joined to Trinidad or that at any rate it obtained 

 its Reptiles and Batrachians by active or passive migration from 

 this Island. 



December, 1894. 



BANANA DISEASE. 



A DISEASE, probably fungoid, has been attacking plants 

 of the Musa tribe throughout this Island and probably 

 in other Colonies. The roots are first affected, the plant begins 

 to look sickly, then the centre shoot becomes brown and rotten 

 and the plant soon after dies. Various attempts have been 

 made at different times to combat this disease which at one 

 time worked great havoc in banana plantations in Demerara. 

 The simplest and most effective of these attempts is that 

 discovered by Mr. J. W. L. Mitchell, of Tacarigua, whose own 

 account sent to the Club and, by the kindness of the Editor, first 

 published in the Port-of-Spain Gazette, we append : — 



Tacarigua, Sept. 1, 1894. 



COMMON SALT, A CURE FOR FIG DISEASE. 



Dear Sir. — I have been trying experiments for some months past 

 and find the application of i£ to 2 oz. salt a perfect cure. Suppose 

 a tree to be diseased and half dead, with only 3 green leaves and a 

 centre, apply the salt sprinkled at the junction of the leaves and stem, 

 and some round the roots. Then water well, if there is no rain ; the 

 rapid decline of the tree is at once stopped, and it begins to put out 

 new leaves. 



Yours truly, 



(Sgd.) J. W. L. MITCHELL. 



