4 DISEASES OF TROPICAL PLANTS 



entirely different diseases have been reported under one 

 name, and it is not uncommon for a widely distributed 

 disease to be known by two or more names. Further- 

 more, there are many parts of the tropics which have 

 never been studied by a trained plant pathologist. It 

 will, therefore, be necessary in a work of this kind at 

 this time to speak in very general terms. It is not 

 possible to give a discussion of all the diseases or even 

 to mention all of them. Neither is it possible to give 

 the range of the various diseases or their relative import- 

 ance in the various countries in which they occur. A 

 disease that is very destructive in one part of the world 

 may be of very little importance in other places. 



It is the purpose of this work to call attention to 

 some of the most common, most widespread, and most 

 destructive diseases of tropical plants ; to give as prac- 

 tical a knowledge as possible of plant diseases in general 

 and their causes ; and to give the most common remedies 

 and methods of prevention. However, some attention 

 will be given to certain diseases which are well known 

 in the temperate zones, but not well known in the 

 tropics. The introduction of certain vegetables into 

 the tropics, where they are grown for winter markets in 

 the north, has resulted in the introduction of many 

 diseases, and no doubt many others have been intro- 

 duced and not reported, or may be introduced at any 

 time. Furthermore, certain diseases which we have 

 considered characteristic of the temperate zones may 

 occur on their recognised hosts when cn'own in the hio-h 



o o o 



altitudes of tropical countries. Therefore, a number of 

 diseases are mentioned which are not well known or 

 possibly not known at all in the tropics. The possibility 

 and probability of the introduction and spread of 

 destructive diseases makes it necessary for the practical 

 agriculturist to keep in close touch with the experiment 

 station of the country in which he lives for specific 

 information concerning the diseases which are indigenous 

 to the country or which may happen to be introduced 

 from time to time. 



