34 RUBBER PLANTING IN CEYLON 



the alertness of the planters in discovering the disease in its first stages, 

 and calling for expert advice, would result in its extinction before serious 

 harm came to the trees. 



The disease, although new to the Hevea as far as known, has long 

 been an enemy to apple trees, cacao, tea, etc., and frequently kills the 

 tree cr shrub upon which it grows. Mr. Carruthers, when first it 

 appeared, examined portions of diseased trees, and recognized the fungus 

 as a species of nectria. He then visited both Jhe government planta- 

 tions of Hevea and the larger private plantations. In one district, Kala- 

 tura, he found only one tree in two hundred affected, but ontheEdan- 

 goda estate, twenty per cent, of the trees were diseased; while at Yati- 

 porua there were forty per cent. The appearance of the fungus on the 

 trees is a swelling or roughening of portions of the tree trunk or branches. 

 If the outer bark is cut off, the tissue beneath shows at first a neutral tint, 

 and later a brownish or claret color. When the fruit of the fungus ripens, 

 it is a very minute red dot which is carried by the wind, by water, or by 

 tree insects, to a moist spot -on the bark of the same or another tree, and 

 there it thrives, and soon fills the tissues with its mycelium. 



It was practically eradicated by cutting out the diseased portions 

 and the burning of them. This is best done in dry weather. Nor did 

 the cutting of the trees appear in any way to weaken them or hinder 

 their growth. Mr. Carruthers had brought with him some cultures with 

 which he proceeded to inoculate a young Hevea tree, while I stole aWay 

 into the grass with my back to the sun, turned my kodak upon him, and 

 pressed the button. A moment later, happening to glance downward, I 

 saw that the grass was fairly alive with leeches, all making their way 

 toward me. I retreated very hastily, and at once began a frantic search 

 for them about my person. I found a lot on my shoes, trousers, 

 and outer clothing, but was lucky enough to remove the last one before 

 getting bitten. 



Speaking of insect pests, there are very few in Ceylon that are 

 troublesome to man at least I saw or felt but few. The mosquito was, 

 of course, more or less in evidence, but I did not get too badly bitten. I 

 did, however, resent its mode of attack. It does not approach you with 

 a song, but, in a silent, crafty, suspicious way, alights, bites, and flees. 

 So suspicious is the creature that it is almost impossible to clap it on 

 the back, as is the custom in America when he has succeeded in punc- 

 turing one's epidermis. It, therefore, has no friends, and beds every- 

 where are enclosed in huge muslin screens ; otherwise one would be 

 constantly bored. 



