CANE SUGAR. 



Fig. 83 shows a cane attacked by the Melanconium, and Fig. 8!j. shows the 

 spores. 



FIG. 83. 



The Root Diseases of the West Indies. This disease was 

 shown by Howard to be due to the fungus Ifarasmms saccJiari ; in Java this 

 is considered as a disease of the stem, the basal part of which is attacked ; the 

 roots of the cane also suffer so that the term * root fungus ' is justified ; 



FIG. 84. 



whereas in Java the disease is chiefly prevalent in nurseries, in the West 

 Indies it is general and is particularly severe on ratoons. The disease is 

 marked by the stunted appearance of the canes, by the dry leaf strap sticking 

 to the basal end of the cane, by the presence of the mycelium which can be 

 seen with the naked eye, and after rainfall by the appearance on the stalk of 

 small fan-shaped toadstools.* 



* In Demerara the writer has seen canes die with all the outward signs of ' root 

 disease ' ; the toadstools which appeared under favourable conditions of rainfall were not 

 in any way like those of AJarat'mius; they were umbrella-shaped, with stipe 3-4 ins. long 

 and with cap -1 inch wide. 



154 



