Diseases 255 



for an existence in drought-affected areas 

 might be mistaken for trees suffering from root 

 disease. 



An important point that Mr. Stockdale calls 

 attention to, is that when a coco-nut palm is 

 affected by any disease or pest, the terminal 

 bud in the advanced stages of the disease 

 almost invariably becomes involved in the 

 state of rottenness. This state, however, 

 must not be confused with bud-rot, which is a 

 separate and a specific disease, leaving the 

 roots, stem, and leaves sound, and causing the 

 bud only to become diseased. 



Root disease seems to reduce the power of 

 the tree to absorb water, and hence nourish- 

 ment. Things seem to go fairly well with the 

 trees until they commence to fruit, when, if 

 diseased, the drain on their strength seems too 

 great, and wilting and yellowing follows. It 

 was observed that trees just coming into 

 bearing were the most liable to succumb. In 

 low-lying, undrained hollows the disease was 

 found to be worst, and it is therefore necessary 

 to keep the condition of the soil as good as 

 possible, in order that it may be favourable to 

 the growth and health of the plant. Investi- 

 gations tend to prove that root disease may 

 spread by means of: 



(1) Mycelium through the soil from root to 

 root, which extend to great lengths. 



(2) Spores blown from tree to tree. 



(3) Germinating tubes of spores from petioles* 



