38 



X400 



Jig. 56. Species of Dinema- 

 sp&rium found on banana 

 from Fiji. 



11-0 x 3-6 M > ' In the accompanying measurements it is pro- 



bable that an excess of the larger spores ;was 

 measured. The average of the measurements of 

 the spores as taken is 3'1 x 8*5 p, which is probably 

 a little large. From this it appears that these 

 spores are to all intents and purposes of the same 

 form and size as those of the Queensland scab. 

 Their general appearance was in all respects the 

 same. There was this important difference, that 

 generally no pustules could be seen, the Fiji spores 

 being derived from the cracks in the scab. ' 

 Other spore-forms were seen on the Fiji bananas. In particular, 

 mention should be made of some spores of Dinemasporium. These 

 were drawn and measured, but no pustules were seen, and in fact the 

 spores occurred in only a single preparation. (See Fig. 56.) 



Two of these bananas from Fiji presented a red scab which had such 

 striking peculiarities as to lead me to more than suspect it to be of a 

 different character. It occurred in both specimens on the incurved 

 side of the fruit, and this side was almost com- 

 pletely covered with a brick-red scab cracked 

 in the characteristic manner. If this one side 

 of the fruit had been carefully painted it 

 could hardly have looked more artificial. The 

 margins of the terra-cotta colour were precisely 

 coincident with the angles of the fruit. If there was any part of the 

 coloured area that differed from the rest it was the lower part. Here 

 it seemed as if the disease had not yet reached its full intensity, the 

 original green of the skin being not yet completely covered. 



The most careful search discovered no fungus pustules on this 

 red area ; only near the stem, where the red colour had been succeeded 

 by a brown, were there traces of fungus spores. These have not yet 

 yielded satisfactory data for an opinion as to their connection with the 

 disease. 



STIGMONOSE. 



[See Coloured Plate opposite.] 



A NUMBER of maladies of obscure origin have from time to time been 

 brought into notice by correspondents who as 

 a rule have forwarded samples in the shape of 

 fruit and foliage. It is a peculiarity of these 

 cases that they hail from all parts of the 

 Commonwealth. Nor are they confined to any 

 one class of crop, though they are usually 

 either the fruit or the foliage and branches of 

 fruit-trees. Apples, pears, and quinces may 

 be said to be most frequently sent. 



One of the first instances of this sort was 

 the disease reported upon under the heading 

 11 An Obscure Disease of the Apple." Next 

 came a disease to which I applied the name 

 " Bitter Pit," a name that has been widely 



