COCONUT INDUSTRY IN WEST INDIES 113 



disease appears in a plantation, is to destroy the 

 infected trees as rapidly as possible. By the time 

 that the outward symptoms make their appear- 

 ance, the central bud is usually so badly decayed 

 as to preclude the hope that the tree can be 

 saved. The infected trees should be cut down 

 and burned. Other trees in their neighbourhood 

 should be carefully watched for signs of the 

 disease and treated in the same manner when it 

 appears. If it spread to any extent, trees in 

 the infected area might be sprayed thoroughly 

 with Bordeaux mixture. It is believed by some 

 that placing salt inside the cabbage is a pro- 

 tection against this disease, though no definite 

 evidence on the subject is available. 



Root Disease. This is practically confined 

 to trees that have commenced to bear. Its first 

 symptoms are often somewhat similar to those 

 of bud rot, but the two may be distinguished 

 on further examination. The first signs of its 

 presence are shown by the leaves, which 

 become wilted and then turn yellow. Finally 

 they dry up, blacken and hang down from the 

 cabbage, often remaining a considerable time 

 before they are shed. Frequently it is to be 

 observed that the leaves do not hang down, 

 but that the petioles or sheathing bases break 

 across, leaving the sheathing portion on the 

 trunk, while the expanded portion either falls 

 to the ground or hangs down. Usually the 

 outermost ring of leaves is the first to be 



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