104 DISEASES AND THEIR CURE 



Stem-Heeding disease is caused by a fungus, 

 Thielaviopsis paradoxa, according to the West 

 Indian Government mycologist, who adds that it is 

 also responsible for a form of rot among pineapples 

 and a decay of cane-cuttings, its spread in plant 

 tissues being dependent upon the amount of sugar 

 which they contain. Stem-bleeding has caused 

 considerable trouble in Ceylon, and the Katana 

 Agricultural Society diagnosed its symptoms and 

 effect as follows : 



1. The oozing from the trunk of a rusty or dark- 

 coloured liquid. 



2. Followed by wounds on the trunk. 



3. In about two or three years the skin of the 

 trunk drops out. 



4. The top portion of the tree gradually becomes 

 thin. 



5. To about the depth of 3 or 4 ft. the roots 

 wither, either wholly or in part. 



6. The tree dies after five or six years, or sooner. 



Not till the liquid begins to ooze out is the disease 

 revealed and then the process of decay has already 

 commenced. 



This disease is not so destructive as bud rot, and 

 in some coconut-growing regions it does not appear 

 to be prevalent. The swiftest remedy is to cut out 

 and burn the infected tissues, a chisel and mallet 

 being considered the best tools for the purpose ; 



