Planting in Fiji 481 



where they ceased. The whole cabbage was 

 reduced to a foetid, offensive-smelling mass, 

 and was in a very advanced stage of decom- 

 position. Where the eggs of this moth are 

 laid is not known at present, but probably it 

 will be found to be on the leaf bases where 

 small larvae have been discovered making their 

 way towards the cabbage. The condition to 

 which those palms are reduced appears to very 

 closely resemble the ' bud-rot ' disease which 

 occurs in the West Indies, &c." 



The inference which appears to me the most 

 natural to draw from the foregoing reports is 

 that bud-rot is caused by the piercing of the 

 young and tender leaves surrounding the 

 cabbage. Once an opening is made the soft 

 and sweet interior is immediately attacked by 

 bacteria, fungi, and sundry insects. 



Mr. Jepson is probably right in supposing 

 the Trachycentra does the initial damage with 

 trees, but as this moth has not been mentioned 

 (so far as I know) by writers in other coco-nut 

 growing countries in connection with the 

 disease, it is most likely that there is something- 

 else animal, bird, or insect which is to 

 blame. Whatever causes the wound the result 

 is bud-rot. 



Although palms killed by bud-rot, if left 

 standing, have ultimately very much the same 

 appearance as those struck by lightning, there 

 is a very considerable difference in the two 

 operations. 



