J. F. DASTUR 141 
yield of fruits was much heavier than in any of the other plots, and the percen- 
tage of diseased fruits was less than that from the control plots, but more 
than that from the sprayed plot. The percentage for each of the first four 
pickings being 25-0, 17:5, 25°4 and 17°3. 
On plot No. 8 the disease was first observed on the 26th of October. 
Altogether only 45 plants were found infected by the end of November. This 
showed once again that a late sown crop easily escaped damage caused by die- 
back. The fruits were not ready for picking before the third week of December, 
and therefore naturally the percentage of diseased fruits was negligible. 
Plot No. 7. The disease on this plot was first observed onthe 10th of October, 
but the first application of one per cent. Burgundy mixture, at the rate of 
125 gallons per acre, was given onthe 29th of September as on the 27th one 
plant in plot No. 2 was found diseased. The mixture happened to be very 
alkaline, and consequently the tender tips of the flowering shoots got rather 
badly burnt. The next application was given on the 17th when the fruits had 
set. It had no bad effect on the plants as the mixture was made very slightly 
alkaline. The sprayed plants had decidedly less of die-back than the 
plots 3,4 and 6, and yielded more healthy fruits. The percentage of diseased 
fruits for each of the first four pickings was 11°6, 75, 10°0 and 7°5. The total 
yield of fresh fruits from these pickings was less than that of the control plot 
No. 6, but the yield of healthy fruits was higher. Not only did the freshly 
picked fruits from the sprayed plot compare favourably in regard to the 
percentage of disease than those fromthe unsprayed plots, but they also stood 
drying better. Healthy fruits picked from the sprayed plot remained healthy on 
drying, and the skin of the dried fruits was bright ruby red. But fruits from 
unsprayed plots that were healthy when picked developed diseased spots on 
drying. It has been found that Gleosporium on plantains! and on other 
fruits and leaves’ is capable of lymg dormant till there are suitable circum- 
stances for developing its activities ; similarly Vermicularia may lie dormant on 
the pods and resume its growth in the moist and warm conditions of the drying 
heap ; of course, the attack of the disease on the drying pods is not very severe, 
but the spotted and discoloured skin of the dry fruits is bound to lessen the 
market value. 
The reason why only two sprayings were given is that before the third could 
be applied there was a sudden fall of temperature and of the humidity percentage 
1 Dastur, J. F. Spraying for Ripe Rot of the Plantain Fruit. Agri. Jour. India, 
XI, 1916, p. 145. 
* Shear, C. L., & Wood, A. K. Studies of Fungus parasites belonging to the Genus 
Glomerella. U. S. Dept. of Agri. Bur. of Pl. Ind. Bull. No, 252, 1913, p. 95. 
