MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 283 



found nothing more in it than could in his opinion be most 

 properly ascribed to Diplodia. It is possible, of course, that 

 points found by others have been overlooked by him, but 

 if so, it is full time that such points were fully worked out, 

 so as to confirm the determination, or to rid us of the 

 bogey of a disease which was brought to notice. 



With regard to measures to be taken to control or prevent 

 the spread of the diseases caused by Diplodia, I am in full 

 accord with Stockdale, who writes : " This disease does 

 not readily attack trees in a vigorous condition of health. 

 Every effort should therefore be given to thorough culti- 

 vation, all diseased branches should be cut out and burned, 

 and all wounds should be followed by an application of 

 coal tar or some similar (antiseptic, J. H. H.) substance." 

 In 1907 the rapid growth made by the spores, which it has 

 been seen are capable of infecting a tree in a single hour, 

 shows clearly how important is such advice as that given 

 above, not alone by Stockdale, but by all writers, among 

 whom there is an agreement of opinion which necessarily 

 adds to its importance. When it is seen and realised by 

 the planters how dangerous must be the practice of leaving 

 naked cuts or open wounds without a covering of anti- 

 septic dressing, how dangerous to leave quantities of dead 

 branches or prunings in the field capable of propagating the 

 fungus by millions of spores, each capable of reproducing 

 the disease in an hour, and how still more dangerous it is 

 to leave heaps of empty pods infected with fungus to act 

 as nurseries for the spread of the destructive organisms of 

 such a fungus, they will readily forgive the earnestness 

 which has induced students of such facts to lay them before 

 the public. When the enemy is well known — and the 

 principles which retard, delay, or negative his power for 

 mischief — a much better fight can be maintained than 

 would be possible were we in ignorance of the cause. 



So far as we are yet aware, no application can be applied 

 which would constitute a radical cure : but, nevertheless, 

 planters may, by keeping a course of high cultivation and 

 by adopting hygienic and preventive measures, do much 



