Diseases 245 



Where the disease, short of the death of the 

 tree, 1 causes the planter considerable loss is 

 by the serious check that it gives to flower 

 development. On account of the disease, less 

 flowers are produced, and finally the diseased 

 condition of the trees becomes marked in the 

 shortness of the crop of nuts. Even if the 

 nuts are there, the restricted food supply 

 checks their development, and reduces their 

 size, and, of course, their marketable value, 

 if they have any market value left. 



Investigations show that the best way to 

 avoid leaf disease is to surround the trees by 

 conditions that promote vigour and health so 

 that, if the disease has not already arrived, it 

 can be kept away, and if the palms are attacked 

 they are encouraged and enabled to overcome 

 the trouble to a very great extent. The 

 fungus seems to be weakly parasitic and only 

 capable of doing appreciable damage when 

 the conditions are extremely favourable for its 

 development. 



Experiments show that infection takes 

 place by the germination of the spores, the 

 germinal tubes of which pass through the 

 stomata of the leaf, and through wounds 



1 This is brought about by the mycelium from a 

 large number of disease spots spreading throughout 

 the whole of the interior of the leaf, and entirely 

 destroying many of the leaves. When the whole of 

 the leaf-area of the plant is destroyed, the terminal 

 bud falls over, and the tree eventually dies. 



