DISEASES OF CACAO 91 



that it were well to treat them (until their life history is 

 better known) as a stem enemy, and to adopt suitable means 

 for their destruction. It may be closely connected with the 

 next species (No. 3), but further knowledge is required 

 to make this definite. We know but little of it, and that 

 little is of a speculative character ; but it may be shown 



Fig. 25. — " Pod Canker." View of the fruiting 



bodies, peritheoia, on the surface of cacao 



pods ( X 50). 



later that it is also a stem or branch parasite. Figs. 25 

 to 31 are reproduced from the Kew Bulletin. 



The common practice of " breaking " the pods in the 

 fields, and leaving the shells to rot, is largely responsible 

 for the spread of fungus diseases, as it follows that the 

 " breaking places " become centres of infection, and 

 rapidly spread that class of disease through a plantation. 



No. 3. " Stem Canker." Nectria theobromce, Massee. 

 — This ftlpgus was drawn attention to in the year 1900, 

 and specimens were forwarded to Kew by the author, 

 where it was determined by Mr. Massee. A description 

 was published in the Kew Bulletin, No. 5, 1908, as follows : 



" Nectria theobromse, Massee, — Perithecia gregaria vel 

 sparsa, superficiolia, ovata, levia, glabra, aurantiaco — 

 rubescentia, ostiolo minuto vix prominulo hiante, 0*5 m.m. 

 alt. Asci cylindracei, stipitati, octospori, paraphyses 

 septatae, ascos excendentes, hyalini, apice vix incrassato, 

 interdum flexuoso, 3 microns crasso. Sporae oblique 



