Ganker of Cacao 



BY 



A. E. DE JONGE. 



With 3 Plates. 



This disease had been observed in Suriname for years. 

 In 1891 it was noticed at Dordrecht and since tlien on 

 several other estâtes, but up to the présent it has only 

 been sporadic. 



In the summer of 1907 however, the canker became 

 épidémie on some estâtes in the Saramacca district. In 

 conséquence, an investigation into the disease was under- 

 taken, the results of which are recorded hère. 



It appeared to be caused by a parasite, which may cer- 

 tainly attack healthy trees, but the serions character 

 which the disease assumed hère so suddenly, must be 

 ascribed to the unfavourable state of the trees, and may 

 be accounted for by the following observations of Mr. 

 Drost, Agricultural Assistant at the Agricultural Expéri- 

 mental Station, during a visit to the Saramaccadistrict. 



During the excessively heavy rainy season of 1907 the 

 Saramacca river rose so high that in many places it 

 overflowed its banks and flooded the cacaofields, so that 

 the trees were standing in water. On the estate Johanna 

 Catharina on the right bank of the river, the backdam 

 broke, so that bushwater came in ; at „De Morgenster" it 

 oozed through the backdam. On both estâtes and on 



Recueil des trav. bot. Néerl. Vol. VI. 1909. 3 



