Diseases 257 



condition of the outer tissues of the roots, while 

 when the tree is cut into, it will be seen that a 

 red discoloration, extending from the ground 

 level for a distance of 2 ft. or 3 ft. upwards, is 

 present in the stem. This may occur as a ring 

 towards the outside, or as a general discolora- 

 tion of the tissue near the centre of the stem. 

 The death of the roots and the discoloration of 

 the stem are the two absolutely distinguishing 

 signs of the disease. 1 



From the personal observations of four of the 

 best known authorities, 2 it seems probable that 

 the disease in Ceylon is quite distinct from that 

 which prevails in the West Indies. According 

 to Fetch, the following are the symptoms of 

 the disease as it occurs in Ceylon : 



(1) The outer leaves wither and droop, usually 

 remaining for a long time suspended vertically 

 round the stem. 



(2) The tree becomes barren, owing to the 

 suppression of the flowering branches. 



(3) The new leaves are successively smaller, 

 so that the crown becomes a mere handful of 

 yellowish leaves. 



(4) Finally, these small leaves wither and 

 decay. 



In face of these descriptions Rorer believes 

 that the two diseases are quite distinct and 



1 Bulletin No. 70 of the Imperial Department of 

 Agriculture, Barbados, already referred to. 



2 Butler of Pusa ; Fetch of Ceylon ; Stockdale of 

 British Guiana ; and Rorer of Trinidad. 



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