THE BUD-ROT Oi* PALMS IN INDIA. 



245 



V. Villcujes ivhifJi do no/ .-^hoir auij markad period of 

 uiaximum inteasity. 



To sum up the question of seasonal prevalence it is clear that, 

 with few exceptions, the deaths are more numerous in the villages 

 of Amalapur Taluk in the months from August to February, than 

 from March to July. This is in close relation with the relative hiunid- 

 ity of the two periods, and applies equally well to the other affected 

 Taluks. There is a less close relation with the rainfall. In the 

 monsoon, especially in its second half, the mortality appears to 

 reach its maximum, but it is high also in the cold weather months 

 of heavy dew and ground fogs, when there is usually little rain. A 

 distinct diminution in the mortality is observable in a good many 

 instances after the cessation of the monsoon, followed by the 

 cold weather recrudescence. This is not general, since a few cases 

 can be quoted where no diminution after the rains occurred. 

 Still it was sufficiently marked to have attracted attention from 

 the supervisors in charge of the work of checking the spread of the 

 disease. 



VI, — Symptom.s. 



As already mentioned, the disease is usually confined in its ear- 

 her stages to the large fleshy leaf -sheaths which encircle the apex of 

 the palm, just below the expanded crown of leaves. The outermost 



