246 Coco-nuts The Consols of the East 



of any kind on the leaf surface. No result, 

 however, was obtained when the spores 

 were placed on the upper surface of an un- 

 injured leaf, which may indicate that these 

 germinal tubes are incapable of penetrating 

 the epidermis of the leaf. 



In Trinidad it has been noticed that the 

 disease, at present, is doing serious damage 

 only when the condition of the soil and culti- 

 vation are unfavourable to healthy plant 

 growth, and, therefore, in order to keep the 

 palms vigorous and healthy, the matter of 

 drainage (allowing a sufficient water supply, 

 of manuring and cultivation generally to be 

 present) cannot be too carefully attended to. 

 With lands below the sea-level, or containing 

 surface water in excess, drains should be cut to 

 carry the surplus water away, and so prevent 

 its becoming sour. Manuring coco-nut lands 

 is of much more importance than most planters 

 seem able or willing to realize. Manuring 

 may not actually cure the disease, but if the 

 right manure is used, and it is properly 

 applied, it may be the means of strengthening 

 the growth of the plant, and the problem of 

 manuring should be solved by the best 

 resources at the command of the estates. 

 We are trying to solve it to the best of our 

 ability coupled with a little outside help. 



The best remedy for leaf disease seems to 

 be fire, and great care must be taken not to 

 drag diseased portions over the ground, as 



