6 
by the marked tendency of the disease to spread from each center 
of infection. 
It is claimed by some planters that a certain green-skinned 
variety of cocoanut is less liable to this disease than the reddish 
and yellowish kinds. The facts observed seemed to support this 
view. If it is confirmed by further observations it will be a factor 
of the greatest importance as it would make possible the selecting 
of a resistant race of cocoanuts. 
Cocoanut Wasting Disease. —In the eastern part of the island 
between Morant Bay and Manchioneal, a disease occurs that can 
best be described by the above name. The nuts fall afew at a time. 
The lower leaves droop and fall prematurely, while the new leaves 
that are produced become successively smaller and less vigorous. 
In the final stage the leaves are reduced to less than half the 
normal size and the few that remain stand erect as a thin wisp at 
the apex of the bare stem which is seen to be abruptly tapered 
almost to a point. At length the tree dies, but the course of the 
disease is always slow, and affected trees may live for months or 
perhaps years. In the trees examined a white scale insect was 
always found at the base of the petioles and on the fruiting pe- 
duncles. The slow loss of vitality shown by these trees is a 
result that could be expected from the presence of this class of 
insects in sufficient quantity, but they did not seem numerous 
enough to fully account for the serious effect on the tree. In all 
the cases examined there was also a slow rotting of the sheathing 
bases of the petioles and of the fruiting sheaths. The scale insects 
were also observed on some trees that did not as yet show recog- 
nizable symptoms of the disease. Whether such symptoms would 
ultimately develop can only be determined by observations con- 
tinued through a considerable period. Mr. Wm. Cradwick, of the 
Jamaica Agricultural Department, has undertaken to make further 
field studies and as specimens of the scale and cultures from the 
diseased tissues have been secured it is hoped we may ultimately 
gain a better understanding of this interesting but obscure trouble. 
If, as seems probable, the scale is the first inciting cause of the 
disease it should be possible to devise some remedial treatment. 
Owing to the height of the trees and the method of growth, the 
