388 COCOA CHAP. 



by the following insects : (l) borers ; (2) an Hemipterous 

 insect of unknown species, which attacks the young 

 branches ; (3) an insect which attacks the pods (perhaps 

 a Helopeltis species, according to the Director of 

 Agriculture of Gold Coast), and by fungous diseases 

 as follows : (1) die-back (perhaps caused by Diplodia) ; 

 (2) white thread (Marasmius scandensf); (3) horse- 

 hair blight ; (4) canker ; (5) root fungus ; (6) crown-rot. 



Of all these plagues the borers and the Hemipterous 

 insect, which attacks the young branches, are doing most 

 damage, especially the borers. They bore holes in the 

 stem and in the branches, and, according to the descrip- 

 tions, the damage done is still greater than that of the 

 West Indian borer (Steirastoma). It is probable that 

 the Gold Coast borer is the larva of another beetle. 



To fight the borer a small piece of jagged wire is 

 pushed into the hole of the stem or the branch, and after 

 it has been worked up and down for some time, the 

 wire is pulled out and the hole filled up with clay ; but 

 in the majority of cases the branch is simply cut off. 



The Agricultural Department is busy in drawing the 

 attention of the natives to the Hemipterous insect, 

 which attacks the young branches, and is giving in- 

 structions to fight the enemy. A notice issued by the 

 Department, and printed both in English and in the 

 native language may be quoted here : 



NOTICE TO COCOA-FARMERS 



An insect pest has been discovered to be doing great damage 

 to the cocoa trees and, if allowed to spread, it may destroy the 

 whole industry. Every chief and farmer must do his utmost to 

 prevent the spread of this pest and so save the crops from the 

 danger which threatens them. 



DESCRIPTION OF THE INSECT DOING THE DAMAGE 



The insect when young resembles a tick or spider and is red- 

 dish in colour ; when old it is brown or black > and, though it 

 generally has wings, it cannot fly more than short distances. The 

 insect, young or old, has a trunk which, when not feeding, is 

 folded back. 



