S. SUNDARARAMAN 213 
Inoculations. 
Ginger plants for this experiment were raised from rhizomes obtained 
from a disease-free locality in Malabar, dipped in 2 per cent. formalin (i.e., 
Schering’s formalin diluted) for half an hour and then washed with distilled 
water. The pots used for growing the plants were new and were immersed 
in a 0'1 per cent. solution of corrosive sublimate and dried. The soil that was 
put in the pot was sterilized by heating over a fire in tin pans. Before inocu- 
lation, leaves of the plants were moistened with distilled water and spores were 
placed on the surface. All the plants were kept under bell-jars on platforms, 
and were sprayed with distilled water now and then. The plants were always 
in a moist atmosphere. Nine plants were used for the experiment. Six were 
inoculated and three were kept as control, and the same treatment was given 
to all. At the end of four days, discoloured spots appeared on the inoculated 
portion. The spots varied in size from tiny flecks to 3 mm. in diameter. 
Later on, the leaves began to lose colour and gradually rotting setin. Plate III 
shows the results of inoculation. The leaves had become rotten and dried up 
and pustules of the fungus appeared in large numbers. The controls remained 
healthy. Photographs were taken 27 days after inoculation. A glance at 
these will show clearly the effect of the inoculation (Plate IV, fig. 1). Every 
inoculation was successful and in no case did any control show any disease 
(Plate IV, fig. 2). These data go to establish the parasitism of the fungus 
beyond any doubt. Infection appears to take place through the stomata 
and other openings in the epidermis. Pustules are of rare occurrence upon 
leaves while still attached to the plants. The general development of pustules 
takes place upon the dead and decaying leaves and is very common in diseased 
fields. Inoculations conducted under drier conditions gave only negative 
results. The following table shows the details of the inoculations. 
