78 



THE iBUPBOT OF THE COCONUT AND ITS OONTEiOL 



This disease has caused enormous losses in the coconut in- 

 dustry in Cuba. Extensive studies have been made, and the 

 Government offered a reward' of $30,000 to any one that dis- 

 covered the cause of this disease, and a method of controlling it. 



Fifty seven people, both Cubans and foreigners, made 

 applications for the prize claiming ,that they knew the cause and 

 had efficient remedies. The various applications were at the close 

 of the contest in Dec. 1918, referred for judgement to a commitee 

 appointed by the Academy of Sciences in Havana. Up to date 

 this CommitSe has not repoirted. 



Meanwhile the President of this Commission of Plant 

 Sanitation while an employee of the U. S. Department of Agri- 

 culture worked in Cuba and other parts of the West Imdies and 

 carried out apparently successful experiments demonstrating 

 that- the Budrot disease of the Coconut was a highly infectious 

 disease due to a form of a germ Bacillus coli. Studies made ia 

 various countries revealed the fact that the principles of sanita- 

 tion yielded good results in the control of this disease. Prof. 

 Plome, pathologist of the Bstacion .^gronomica made extensive 

 studies and recommended sanitation as the only means .practicable. 

 The Commission appoiiited by the Grovemment to investigate the 

 disease in 1911 visited Baracoa and likewise reported on the 

 feasibility of sanitation and recommended Government measures 

 for control of the disease. 



Prom the extensive studies made in this country and in the 

 Island of Jamaica, of Trinidad and elswhere, there would seem 

 to be no doubt that now the imm©dia,te cause of the disease is 

 known and that there is a practical means of control. 



This fact was reported by the Commission of Plant 

 Sanitation to the Secretary of Agriculture, Coinmenee and Labor, 

 and the decree against the coconut disease was the result. 



The Commission of Plant Sanitation designated one Ins- 

 pector to visit all the coconut groves in the Baracoa district, 

 to register all the diseased forms and to counsel the owners of 

 these places how to treat the diseased trees. Copies of the decree 

 against the coconut budrot are distributed to the. people and 

 edicts, are posted in numerous conspicuous places. 



After a reasonable time the Inspector will revisit the various 

 farms to note the progress of the work, and to note if everytbody 

 has complied with the regulations. In case the Inspector finds 

 that the regulations have not been complied with, this fact will 

 be communicated to the Commission of Plant Sanitation and 



