3 
and in dry places little disease appears, except where pods ha 
m EDS under the trees and the shells have been allowed k 
1e 
3. After the pods are un by the "fungus—which has 
lance-shaped spores—it is n taken possession of by numerous 
saprophytic uns which ee eradicate all trace of the 
original destroye 
4. If the füripts is new, I suggest. = should be named after 
Mr. Bain, who first called attention 
5. Mr. Bain reports that, by alati out all diseased pods and 
destroying at once all shells of the opened. he has checked the 
disease on his estate. 
E I have again reproduced the disease in numerous healthy 
: 7. Bo far as can be judged by Mr. pene 8 esa eni cacao 
in Ceylon has the pods affected by ar The 
deseription of the trees and the a s gite cin that miis in 
eylon has a much lower vitality han in Tfinidad, and con- 
re is more liable to dis 
8 e pod-disease is naeh: no new thing. Planters say it 
has been noted for years, but not so bad as this year. 
Yours faithfully, 
The Director (Signed) J. H. HART. 
Royal Gardens, Kew. 
The living material forwarded by Mr. Hart reached Kew in 
excellent condition for examination, exhibiting every p 
ES isease, and growing vigorously when placed egy 
rie conditions. Ample spirit material — also sent. 
oscopic examination revealed the presence of two 
fung parasites; one being the well seers Phytophthora 
omnivora, De Bary, a species closely allied to Phytophthora in- 
Jestans, De Bary, the cause of the potato disease ; the other a 
Nectria, which proves to be new to science, and will ‘be known as 
Nectria Bainii, the name suggested by Mr. Hart, in compliment 
to Mr. Bain, who first called attention to the disease. 
The Phytophthora Sie -— on all the pods sent, and may be 
considered as the cause of the present Tor in Trinidad. The 
same or a closely allied species seven o be the cause of the cacao- 
rab in Ceylon. 
The Nectria appeared on two pods, this again poss 
many points in common PR the Fama itch has caused euch 
destruction to cacao trees in Ceylon by attacking the bark of the 
trunk and branches, as | esse by Mr. J. B. Carruthers. At 
present no mention is made of other than the pod-disease in Trini- 
dad, but the fact of a ae Nectria being present necessitates the 
prompt execution of m caleulated to prevent the parasite 
from extending its Sic 
3242 AT 
+ 
