DISEASES, ETC. 69 



to infect a Cacao pod with the spores of Phytophthora omnivora 

 or with those of Nectria. With these are found an attendant 

 species of ant, as occurs on many other species of plants, but the 

 ant in this case is practically harmless. 



Wood ants also infest tree? on which there is decayed 

 wood, or wood in process of decay ; but the remedy for such 

 attacks is obviously the removal of all dead or dying wood, which 

 should never be allowed to accumulate on a well ordered 

 plantation. 



Among the vegetable parasites there are one or two species 

 of Loranthacece, which affect Cacao. These are mistletoe-like 

 plants which are true parasites, and do considerable harm to the 

 trees, and should be at once removed with a sharp cutting 

 instrument as soon as seen. If the branch on which they are 

 affixed can be spared, it should also be removed, as it is liable to 

 reproduce the plant from the seat of union between the parasite 

 and the tree. 



There are also one or two species of Cuscuta or " Dodder" 

 which cause considerable damage. These plants are known as 

 ' God Bush" and " Love Vine" in several of the West Indian 

 Islands. In a well managed plantation they are at once removed 

 from the trees in their younger stage, for if allowed to spread 

 they weaken and eventually destroy the trees they affect. 



There are a large number of so-called " parasites or orchids" 

 which are found to grow on Cacao trees. Among these may be 

 mentioned Tillandsia, Peperorrtia, Anthurium, Philodendron, 

 Marcgraavia, and several species of true orchids.* 



True parasites such as Loranthus and Cuscuta, evidently 

 weaken the tree by the abstraction of its juices, but the epiphy- 

 tical growths do not take any nourishment from the tree itself, 

 but obtain their nourishment direct from the atmosphere and 

 from particles of food carried to their roots by the rain that 

 falls, only affixing themselves to the tree as a holding place or 

 suitable position for carrying on their life's work. 



It is doubtful therefore if they do any direct harm to the 

 tree, but nevertheless, a plantation having trees covered with 

 such growth cannot be said to be under good cultivation, and it 



* The word " Orchids or Parasites" is applied indiscriminately in 

 Trinidad to any kind of parasitical or epiphytical growth which appears 

 on the Cacao tree. 



