10 
This rotting is not attracting much attention, but with the Creola 
variety at low altitudes it is certainly very serious and under cer- 
tain conditions it is liable to prove destructive to other kinds. 
ether or not the blasting of the young pods is due to the 
growth of a fungus could ae ai ey determined. This 
blasting occ ,especiallyto the fall crop. 
Cocoa es Deas Thee’ is trouble from the dying of cocoa 
trees on certain areas. The roots examined all showed signs of 
having been gnawed much as in the orange trouble, but in addi- 
tion the injured roots were attacked by some fungus mycelium. 
Want of time prevented a thorough investigation of this trouble. 
Cassava Root Rot.—-It was stated by some laborers that 
cassava roots rotted if planted on land where logwood trees had 
died. A cassava patch was examined that had been planted on 
such lands. A number of unthrifty plants were noted and on 
digging them up the roots were found to be enveloped in a white 
mycelium and to be rapidly rotting. Dead logwood stumps 
were near these diseased plants. This was on a rather light, 
upland, red soil, that was well adapted to the growth of cassava. 
The connection between the cassava rot and the logwood root 
rot could only be inferred. 
In conclusion I would say that this somewhat hasty recon- 
noissance demonstrates the presence in Jamaica of a number of 
diseases of economic plants some at least of which are liable to 
prove destructive. The short time at my disposal was not suf- 
ficient for a thorough study of any of these and the few remedial 
and preventive measures suggested above are tentative only, and 
are intended simply as the basis for field experiments. I woul 
respectfully suggest to the Jamaica Government that the Agri- 
cultural Department can do no more useful or practical work 
than to provide for a further study of these diseases. 
While thus emphasizing the great importance of acquiring a 
full knowledge of such diseases as do occur, I feel like congratu- 
lating the planters of Jamaica on the fact that serious diseases 
seem to be so few. Most countries with equally diversified crops 
have to contend with a much greater number of these pests. 
EarLe. 
