113 
3. pe of the pods might be sent in spirit whilst others: a an be 
sent a small box, in a living state, attached to portions of the vine. | 
ave, &c. 
“The Hon. R. H. Meade, C. B, (Signed). D. Momus. ` 
Colonial Office. 

Enclosure. 
A fungus cw a to the Peronosporee has been detected in the 
tissues of ig nilla pods received from the Seychelles, It is desirable 
b š : 
that furt ag Mere should be examined in order to ascertain the 
relation or fae ungus and disease. Specimens of pods, as rotten as 
possible (from the disease), even of last season, if obtainable, 
should be placed in spirit, and other pods in the earliest stage of disease, 
showing a white mouldiness outside, sent alive. 
(Signed) G. MASSEE. 
'The specimens desired for investigation at Kew were received from 
his Honour T. Risely MA = G.,the Administrator of the Seychelles, 
- February 1890. They were submi itted for d qued to Mr. Massee, 
o has prepared the following banati Report 
In May 1887 Mr. D. Morris, M.A., F.L.S., Assistant pte ae 
Gardens, Kew, submitted to me for examination some vanilla “ pods” 
fruits from the Seychelles supposed to be diseased. Owing to amine at 
packing the material ait useless for investigations In February 1890 
a second consignment was received representing every stage of the disease, 
which shows oiy that the disease is soa by a microscopic 
fungus, T vanille. Vanilla planifolia, Andr., is the species 
cultivated 
e first consignment consisted of “pods” or capsules only, and 
these, having been wrapped up while — in lead paper, arrived in a 
half-deca ayed condition and completely covered with minute fungi such 
as sitet herbariorum, which had iiy developed during the 
urney, thus rendering useless the material for investi igation. sm 
speis of P rome was met with in fair abundance in the tissues; but 
this, as will be shown, had nothing to do with the disease that. was 
eausing the wholesale destruction of the vanilla plants. 
'The second lot of epe arrived in excellent condition, and illus- 
trated every stage of the disease from the earliest indication of its 
influence on dis aerial pare to the dry and shrivelled leaves and stems, 
and included alsoa good supply of material in alcohol. The living 
stems had been cut into pieces about half a yard long, each piece bear- 
i — ema leaves and aerial roots, often two yards or e in 
over 30 in number, were — between thick 
and without a trace of mould, due probably to we sucdstdre from the 
specimens having been absorbed by the s pr ore e of blotting- 
- "The whole were packed in an m 
three Runden de — species o: fungi, ; distributed as follows ps 
groups from slightly discoloured patches. ‘These were moss abundant 
on the upper surface of the leaf, but in some instances occurred on both 
AT 
