90 CACAO 



compost heap is dangerous, as there will always be the 

 danger of carrying back to the field dormant resting spores, 

 which retain their vitality. The suggestion of establishing 

 concrete tanks in different sections of an estate is an 

 excellent one, and with good management the organic 

 material of the pod could by their use be preserved and 

 returned to the soil as manure or fertiliser. It may be 

 said that this method is too expensive, but it should be 

 remembered that the most expensive method may, at the 

 same time, be the cheapest, while slipshod, imperfect and 

 cheap methods are certainly the dearest. 



If correct measures are adopted, there can be no doubt, 

 judging from several years' practical experience, that 

 control can be maintained, the spread of Phytophthora 

 prevented, and its presence reduced to proportions (never 

 negligible) which will affect but little the annual returns 

 from the field. 



No. 2. " Pod Canker." Nectria Bainii, Massee. — 

 Mr. George Massee describes this fungus in the following 

 terms : 



" Nectria Bainii, Massee. Perithecia gregaria, mycelio 

 maculiformi flavo-ferrugineo vel aurantiaco insidentia, 

 sphseroidea, rubra, lanosa, demum supra calvescentia, 

 300-350 microns diam. Asci cylindraceo-clavati, breviter 

 pedicellati, octospori, 80-90 X 7-9 microns. Sporce distichse 

 oblongo-ellipticse, utrinque subacutae, 1 septatae, 10-12 

 X 5 microns, hyalinae." — Geo. Massee. 



This fungus causes the appearance of blotches on the pods, the diseased 

 portion becoming soft and watery, and later on becoming covered with a 

 layer of yellowish rusty or dirty orange mycelium, which is studded over with 

 red perithecia or fruiting organs of the fungus. 



The perithecia are often preceded by a small white Fusanum-Xyke mould 

 which (from analogy) may be a oonidial condition of the Necria but the 

 connection has not been proved by cultures. — Kew Bulletin. 



This disease often occurs on shell heaps in the field, in 

 company with Calonectria flavida, Massee, Phytophthora 

 and other fungi, but as yet does not appear to have been 

 recognised upon the stems or branches of the cacao-tree. 

 The history of all the Nectrias is, however, so suspicious. 



