DISEASES OF CACAO 93 



The best known treatment is to excise or cut out the 

 infected parts as soon as detected, treating them with 

 suitable antiseptics in order to induce the wound to heal, 

 and to exclude the entrance of further infective material. 

 Increased attention should be given to the general hygiene 

 of the plantation, so as to maintain the vitality of the 



Fig. 26. Fio. 27. 



Fig. 26. — " Pod Canker." Three peritheoia more highly magnified in different 



stages of development. 



FiQ. 27. — " Pod Canker." Germinating spores. 



trees at the highest possible standard. If trees are culti- 

 vated under too heavy or too light shade they will naturally 

 suffer, and suitable measures should be taken to remedy 

 such a drawback. It is certain that trees too heavily 

 shaded will suffer ; and it is equally certain that trees too 

 much exposed and dried up from the want of shade, will 

 also invite the presence of such disease. 



In appearance this disease resembles the standard 

 illustrations by Tubeuf, Warming, Massee, and others, of 

 the nearly related Nectria ditissima and N. cinndbarina. 

 It causes ultimate ulceration and decay of the bark and 

 stem material, or wood, and has been found on roots by 

 A. E. CoUens, who also found it on stems of Mangifera, 

 Gliricidia, and Persea, 1909. Little good can be done by 

 spraying for reasons previously given ; the number of 



