406 SPICES 



CHAP. 



The rhizomes, on examination by Mr. Howard, showed 

 dark areas containing the mycelium of a fungus with 

 numerous chlamydospores, frequently arranged in 

 chains, as occurs in Allantospora radicicola, a sugar- 

 cane disease in Java, to which this fungus appears to be 

 allied. 



The disease is due to this fungus, which travels 

 underground by means of rhizomorphs, or black mycelial 

 strands. The rhizomes are filled with this mycelium, 

 which collects in strands, and spreads to other roots 

 through the ground. 



The ginger growers carefully dig out affected plants 

 and those next to them, even if they look healthy, and 

 destroy them. It is recommended to wash the rhizomes 

 thoroughly in clean water, and steep them for half an 

 hour in Bordeaux mixture before planting them. This 

 treatment has proved very successful in the case of 

 sugar-cane cuttings liable to the attack of a similar 

 fungus. A cemented tank was made and partially 

 filled with a rather weak solution of Bordeaux mixture, 

 and into this the cuttings were thrown for some hours, 

 after which they were planted. The same might be done 

 with any underground stems liable to fungus attacks, 

 such as ginger. 



Infected ground should be treated with lime, or a 

 light dressing of sulphate of iron. 



This disease spreads rapidly, and if neglected a whole 

 patch may be destroyed. 



Cork -rot. This is another disease met with in 

 Jamaica. Its origin appears to be unknown. The 

 rhizomes when dug up are found to be corky in texture, 

 and valueless. One planter stated that out of a crop 

 estimated to yield fifty to sixty barrels of ginger, he 

 only got five barrels of healthy rhizomes, the rest being 

 spoiled by cork-rot. 



Dried ginger, like many other products, is liable to 

 the attack of the drug-store beetle, Sitodrepa panicea. 

 This is a very small and destructive insect, about -^ in. 

 long, light brown in colour, and covered with a greyish 



