64 DISEASES, ETC. 



cussed. Soil containing oospores, taken from a diseased seed bed, 

 is said to have given rise to the disease four years afterwards, 

 and it is therefore easy to see how readily these spores may be 

 preserved in the decaying masses of broken and empty pods so 

 often seen upon a cacao estate. 



No previous record can be found shewing Phytophthora as 

 destroying fruit in the way that it does the cacao pod, its chief 

 ravages having taken place on the leaves of seedling plants. 



With regard to remedial measures, nothing has to be added 

 to, or taken from the former recommendations made under this 

 head, when attention was first called to the matter, the essential 

 point of which was, to destroy all infected material as soon as 

 such comes under the observations of the planter. 



The examination made at Kew reveals the further fact of 

 the existence of a second parasitic fungus upon the material sent 

 home, which proves to be new to science. This fungus has been 

 determined as Nectria bainii, Masses n. sp. This organism is 

 one known to botanists as an obligate parasite, and has been 

 shown to produce ulceration or " canker " in different trees. As 

 the canker of the Cacao tree in Ceylon is said to be caused by a 

 Nectria, it is ob\iously the duty of all connected with th& 

 culture of Cacao, to watch closely whether the organism which 

 has now been brought to light, is rare or plentiful in our 

 plantations. It has been observed on the young blackened pods. 

 Therefore, it cannot be said that the work is finished in regard 

 to the investigation of these organisms, as it must of necessity 

 be carefully continued, if our planters are to obtain that measure 

 of protection from these fungoid pests which appears to be 

 desirable. 



Phytophthora may be readily cultivated in a nutrient fluid, 

 composed of Agar-Agar and mucilage obtained from a half 

 grown pod, sterilized and placed in "Petii" dishes; and its 

 growth can easily be studied in an ordinary " drop culture." 



In the "Petri " dishes it produces a characteristic out crop- 

 on the surface of the jell}', of .^mall while circles. The disease- 

 can be at any time reproduced on llie half nj,e or full grown 

 pods from this cullivatioa. 



Fortunately there sue several Saprophytic fungi which cover 

 up and appear lodestrny iho cunidtaui Phytophthora, and besides 

 theselhaNe auLiced a small mile ur acarus, which couipk-iely- 



