8 
leaf-blade, and eventually by the decay of the leaf and petiole. 
It does not seem able to extend from the petiole into the tissue 
of the stem. The terminal bud is not attacked, but continues to 
push out fresh leaves, These soon become infected in turn, so 
that usually not more than three or four of the younger leaves 
are free from the disease. Infected plants are much stunted in 
growth and do not bear fruit. In the small field where it was 
first observed fully three fourths of the plants were infected. 
The contagion was in this case probably introduced with the 
suckers that were used for planting, as these were said to have 
been taken from some neglected patches in the neighborhood, 
and a visit to these showed that they were also infected. 
disease evidently spreads slowly.as it had not crossed a wide 
hedge row separating this infected field from one adjoining. It 
may never prove troublesome, but the advisability of immedately 
destroying all diseased plants was strongly urged. If so de- 
structive a disease should by any chance become widely scattered 
the result would be truly disastrous. 
Apparently it is due to a bacterial parasite. Cultures were ob- 
tained and it is hoped to study the disease further. No evidence 
was secured as to the means by which it is conveyed to the fresh 
leaves or from plant to plant. So far as known it is confined to this 
one locality, which is at an elevation of some 1,200 feet and on red 
land. Such locations are not considered to be adapted to bananas, 
yet all uninfested plants were growing and fruiting satisfactorily. 
Orange Root-Grub, — Orange growers, especially in the neigh- 
borhood of Bog Walk, are much troubled by a grub that gnaws 
the bark of the roots. Often the injury is sufficient to cause the 
death of the trees. Where the trees do not die, the growth 
ceases, the leaves turn yellow and the crop fails, The grub is a 
footless larva, probably that of Praepodes vittata, one of the 
Curculionidae. (See Journal of Jamaica Agric. Soc., Jan., 1898, 
p. 11.) From what I am told of the habits of this insect it can 
best be destroyed when in the adult stage. The beetles are said 
to gather in great numbers on the orange trees, eating the foliage. 
If such is the case, they could be killed by arsenical sprays. 
They are said to be clumsy flyers and to have the habit common 
