114 COCONUT CULTIVATION 



affected, though often a middle ring becomes 

 wilted and yellow first, while the leaves outside 

 and inside it are green. After the yellowing 

 of the leaves takes place, diseased trees shed 

 most, if not all, of their nuts, irrespective of 

 their age, while the flowers subsequently pro- 

 duced do not set. Finally, the terminal bud 

 rots and falls over, and the tree dies. The 

 earlier symptoms are exactly like those exhibited 

 when trees are suffering from drought, and in 

 fact are due to lack of water owing to the 

 destruction of the roots. It may, however, be 

 determined whether root disease is actually 

 present or not by making an examination of 

 the roots themselves, and the first two or three 

 feet of the stem. Such an examination quickly 

 reveals a diseased and disorganized condition 

 of the outer tissues of the roots, while, when 

 the tree is cut into, it will be seen that a red 

 discoloration, extending from the ground level 

 for a distance of two or three feet upwards, 

 is present in the stem. This may occur as a 

 ring toward the outside, or a general discolora- 

 tion of the tissue near the centre of the stem. 

 The death of the roots and the red discoloration 

 of the stem are the two absolutely distinguishing 

 signs of the condition. 



The cause of the disease is at present uncertain ; 

 but the following remedial measures may be re- 

 commended. All infected trees should be cut 

 down, their roots carefully dug up, and the whole 

 burned. The soil from which the tree has been 



