THE BT'D-ROT OF PALMS IN TNDTA. 205 



The trial measures were confined to tliree firkas, one in eacli 

 of the taluks of Anialapur, Kamachendrapur and Cocanada. A 

 young Indian Mycological Assistant, Mr. S. Sundararaman, from 

 the Government Botanist's Ofhce, Madras, was placed in charge 

 of the work. He was provided with three Revenue Inspectors, 

 subordinate Indian officials of the Revenue Department, one being 

 posted on special duty to each of the selected firkas. The first step 

 in the work was the issue of a circular to all the villages in the firka, 

 calling for a return of the number of affected trees within each vil- 

 lage area. Each tree counted by the village officers and village 

 servants was marked with lime. The Revenue Inspector then ar- 

 ranged to visit in turn every village reporting the presence of the 

 disease. On his arrival a fresh examination was made, and a num- 

 ber of professional palm climbers (toddy drawers or " Idigas/' of 

 whom a large number live in the Delta) sufficient to carry out the 

 work required, were hired. Some of these were provided with small 

 axes and employed in cutting away the tops of diseased palms. 

 Others were engaged in applying Bordeaux mixture to the leaf-sheaths 

 of all palms within a radius of about 25 yards from those diseased. 

 At the end of the day's work coolies were employed to gather to- 

 gether and burn the cut crowns. As a rule no difficidty was encoun- 

 tered in obtaining fuel for burning the crowns, as their own leaves 

 usually afford sufficient for the purpose. The workers quickly 

 became expert, and with a little experience it was found that a good 

 man would cut off the tops of about 15 palms or apply Bordeaux 

 mixture to about 35 in a day. The axes were provided by Govern- 

 ment, and the Bordeaux mixture required for each day's work was 

 prepared the evening before by the Revenue Inspector. It was 

 served out as required, after thorough stirring, into small pots 

 which, with a bunch of rags for applying it to the sheaths, was hung 

 to the back of the climber's belt. Each tree took about a pint for 

 effective covering of the sheaths. It was found that the Inspector 

 could supervise the work of about 20 climbers, but it was not always 

 easy to recruit the full number required in the village under treat- 

 ment, and later on climbers were frequently imported from other 

 villages in the district. 



