228 Coco-nuts The Consols of the East 



whether caused by bad drainage, careless 

 cultivation, or inferior soil, are the most likely 

 to be attacked by the disease, and there- 

 fore improved conditions of cultivation, &c., 

 should render the trees more capable of 

 withstanding attacks. When the disease is 

 found to be established on an estate, imme- 

 diate and vigorous action must be taken to 

 prevent the disease spreading. Stockdale 

 urges planters " to cut down and destroy 

 all trees showing signs of the Disease. If the 

 planter is sure that it is only bud-rot, and that 

 no root disease is present (which is character- 

 ized by the disorganized condition of the 

 cortex of the roots, and by the reddish ring 

 of discoloration in the stem), it should be 

 sufficient to cut 4 or 5 ft. off the crown of the 

 diseased trees and bury the top deeply with 

 lime, as it would be found impossible to burn 

 such rotten masses as diseased buds. The re- 

 mainder, i.e., the trunk and all rubbish, should 

 also be collected and burned, or otherwise 

 these may serve to harbour other pests which 

 eventually may become destructive. The 

 felling and destroying of diseased trees is 

 undoubtedly an expensive process, but the 

 neglect of these precautions may make all the 

 difference between a trifling loss of trees and 

 money and a serious epidemic." 



To remedy a lack of cultivation and improve 

 the soil with a view of enabling the trees first 

 to throw off any slight attacks of bud-rot or 



