134 DISEASES OF TROPICAL PLANTS CH 



disease usually begins in March, and is very destructive 

 in from three to four months. The plants also suffer 

 from nematodes ; but whether they, or a bacterium which 

 is present in the putrid parts is the cause, is as yet 

 undecided. Nitrate of soda, applied at the rate of 200 

 kil. to the hectare, is said to be very beneficial. 



Bud rots have been reported from Cuba, Jamaica, 

 Trinidad, Dutch Guiana, and Central America. The one 

 in Trinidad has been investigated by Mr. J. B. Korer, and 

 proved to be due to Bacillus musae, Rorer. It is very 

 probable that the bud rots of the other American 

 tropics are due to the same cause, but this has not 

 been demonstrated. 



Since writing the above, Mr. Ed. Essid has 

 published a paper, giving the results of experiments 

 which indicate that the disease is due to Ustilaginoiddla 

 musaeperda. It is very important that Mr. Essid's 

 experiments should be duplicated by workers in the 

 American tropics. 



Surinam Disease. This disease, which is also known 

 as "bigie footoe" or "Elephantiasis," occurs in 

 Surinam, and is said to occur in Columbia, but is of no 

 great economic importance. It has been investigated 

 by Mr. Essid, who attributed it to Ustilaginoiddla 

 oedipigera. He describes it as follows : 



The disease manifests itself by a very often enormous 

 distension of the base of the stem this is why it was called 

 " bigie footoe " or Elephantiasis. In some cases it may not be 

 apparent, but generally a kind of sloughing takes place, caused 

 by the transverse rupturing of the leaf-bases along the line of 

 insertion. The leaves then wither : the withering has nothing 

 striking about it; it is the ordinary fading away of dying 

 leaves. 



Banana Leaf Blight. This disease is quite prevalent 

 in certain localities in Jamaica. It first appears as a 

 brownish discoloration of the fibro - vascular bundles 

 in the veins and midribs of the leaves. The entire leaf 

 blackens and the petiole undergoes a rot, which extends 

 into the stem. The terminal bud does not suffer at 



