DISEASES OF CACAO 103 



presence of parasitic fungi on trees in a bad condition of 

 health. 



It may be mentioned here that even after trees were' 

 seen to be fully infected and destroyed by this fungus 

 there were not wanting those who disputed the fact. 

 These were men wholly unacquainted with mycological 

 science, who argued that because they could not see with 

 the naked eye, they could not believe those working with 

 instruments of precision. Such opposition 

 meets the worker but too frequently, and 

 it becomes especially regrettable where the 

 unbeliever has large interests under his con- 

 trol. Science is, however, slowly winning its 

 way. Another and similar species of Eutypa 

 is recorded at 12a. 



Nos. 13, 14, and 15. — These are fungi put 

 on record as being found on cacao. So far 

 they have not been recognised in Trinidad or 

 other parts of the West Indies. 



No. 16. " Mould." — In the fermentation ..'^j 



bins and drying-houses it requires the constant Fio. 31 .—Pod 

 effort of the operators in charge to keep asoi, eaoh oon- 

 " mildew " or " mould " from gathering on taining eight 

 the surface of the beans, and a great deal of Bach Perithe- 

 the work of the drying floor is expended on its ^mm {see Fig 

 destruction. In places where little care is these asci. 

 exercised, or from want of knowledge, the 

 inside of the roofs of the " floors " may sometimes be 

 found covered with the growth of mould fungi, while the 

 worker is quite unable to understand why mould arises 

 so quickly on his cacao. To the initiated the reason 

 is quite clear. Without going into a long description, 

 it may be mentioned here that all ceilings, walls, bins, 

 tools, baskets, &c., should be regularly cleaned and steril- 

 ised with lime and copper siilphate wash, in order to 

 prevent the dispersion of spores of fungi among the 

 cacao beans. They are dangerous to the produce, as 

 accumulating on its exterior,, and they also find their way 



