156 PLANTING IN UGANDA 



yet it is well to know how to apply the only prac- 

 tical remedy against ground fungi. 



Almost invariably the first symptom shown by a 

 plant whose root is attacked by a fungus, is a re- 

 duction in the amount of foliage, and also a more 

 or less marked reduction in the size of the indi- 

 vidual leaves which wilt and fall early and the 

 tree dies. Of course, the time elapsing before a 

 tree is killed by a root fungus varies according to 

 the intensity of the attack. To make certain that 

 a fungus is present in the root, or collar, remove a 

 portion of bark from either of these parts, and 

 the presence of mycelium, usually white in colour, 

 proves that the injury is caused by a fungus. The 

 mycelium of the fungus gradually spreads in the 

 tissue of the root and collar, and ultimately chokes 

 up the water-conducting system of the tree, thus 

 but little water can ascend from the root into the 

 leaves, which, therefore, wilt, and the plant is 

 practically starved to death. 



