COCONUT INDUSTRY IN WEST INDIES 117 



many parts of the edges are dry and dead, and 

 there occur small yellowish spots. These appear 

 first on the under sidea of the leaves. When 

 a large number have collected it assumes a 

 yellowish appearance and becomes grey and 

 withered. It may remain hanging on the tree 

 for some time, but it finally drops. As a result of 

 the diseased condition of the leaves, the number 

 of nuts diminishes and finally no flowers set. In 

 very bad cases the terminal bud is left alone, and 

 eventually this falls over and the tree dies. 



Leaf disease is caused by a fungus known as 

 Pestalozzia palmarum. It is found on several 

 other host plants besides coconuts, including tea 

 and seedlings of Para rubber. 



The remedial measures consist firstly, of 

 destroying the spores of the fungus and thus 

 preventing its spread; and secondly, of im- 

 proving the health of the trees by cultivation, 

 drainage, and manuring. To destroy the spores 

 of the fungus, all badly attacked leaves should 

 be cut away and burned, while, as in the case 

 of the other diseases, dead trees should be 

 destroyed. In bad cases it will be found useful 

 to spray both infected trees and those which are 

 healthy with Bordeaux mixture. 



COMMERCIAL NOTES 



Germinated seedlings from selected Venezuelan 

 nuts sell at an average price of $40 (Ex. 4s. 2cZ.) 

 per thousand ex. plantation. 



