436 [ THE BANANA. 



not likely that they will recover, and may become a 

 source of infection to healthy plants by means of the 

 intermediary action of insects. 



A disease common everywhere in tropical America, 

 where it is known by the name of "Banana wilt" or 

 "Panama disease" has been ascribed to Fusarium cubeiise 

 Smith. This fungus is probably identical with that of the 

 Hawaiian Islands, and at any rate the disease is said to 

 be common also in India, Australia and the Dutch East 

 Indies. It is considered as very injurious, causing wide- 

 spread destruction of young or immature plants. Fully 

 grown plants with diseased stems produce a sickly and 

 undersized bunch which is commercially worthless. 



Other fungi are found on the dry foliage, on the 

 dead stems or on decaying fruit, but they are essentially 

 of saprophytic nature, and are of no practical importance. 



The injury caused by rats and snails is too well 

 known, and these pests should be kept in check, other- 

 wise many a bunch will become too damaged or disfigured 

 to be saleable. The fruit fly (Ceratiiis capitata Wied.) 

 sometimes attack the fruit which has been left to ripen 

 on the plant, but as the bunch is generally taken into a 

 dark fruit room when yet green, the fruit fly is not 

 allowed much scope for action. The larva of a beetle, 

 Geotrupes laevigatus F. is found frequently feeding on 

 the base of the stem just beneath the surface of the soil, 

 and the plant may succumb if there are several larvae 

 feeding upon it The larvae of various species of beetles 

 have been found within the stem of the plant in tropical 

 countries, and may cause important havoc in large 

 plantations. 



The banana-borer (Cosmopolites sorditus), is a beetle 

 common in the banana plantation of Java, Fiji Islands, 

 Jamaica etc. It attacks the stools or rootstock of the 

 banana and is very destructive. In Java it is kept in 



