Diseases 223 



nearest plant doctor, and if one is not handy, 

 to send a description of the trouble to the 

 nearest Department of Agriculture, or even 

 the authorities at the headquarters of their 

 respective countries, to try and ascertain from 

 those skilled in the profession what the trouble 

 is and how it can be cured. 1 Might we at the 

 same time mention that such knowledge as is 

 asked for in this way costs much money to 

 possess, and applicants, therefore, when able 

 to do so, should be willing to pay for it in one 

 shape or another. A fee, subscription, dona- 

 tion, &c., either to the individual or institution, 

 sufficient to show willingness to acknowledge 

 the help given, would be but a " fly's flick " in 

 comparison to the cost and loss that a serious 

 outbreak on any estate coco-nut, rubber, cacao, 

 &c. is bound to cause the owner. For this 

 reason large estate owners must (not should) 

 make arrangements ahead for a plant doctor 

 to be available when needed. Most of the 

 large Eastern tea and rubber estates have 

 done so. 



The first book we have always taken down 

 of late when the matter of diseases comes up 

 is Mr. Rorer's report on cacao and coco-nut 



1 Meanwhile planters, or intending planters, would 

 be well advised to secure a copy of Ferguson's " Coco- 

 nut Planter's Manual," which contains very full par- 

 ticulars, culled from all sources up to 1909, regarding 

 pests and remedies. Copies cost 45. 6d. post free, from 

 Tropical Life, Publishing Department. 



