24.8 



the necessary opérations on a plantation. The great 

 quantity of spores wliicli develop in them constitute a 

 source of infection for tlie neighbourhood. In the English 

 West Indian islands observations would appear to in- 

 dicate, that „brnwn rot" is especially common in the 

 neighbourhood of so cailed breaking-places, where, after 

 removal of the seeds, the husks of the cacaopods remain 

 lying about in heaps. This is explained by the saprophytic 

 growth of Diplodia on the husks, which of course causes 

 an increase of infections material. The burial of the 

 husks accordingly proved to be an effective way of com- 

 bating „brown rot", and may also be recommended to 

 Surinam planters as a means of combating the die-back 

 disease. 



Department of Agriculture, 



SURINAME. 



