DISEASES AND PESTS 55 



Johnston says that from two months to two years 

 may intervene between infection and death. 



Various insects and fungi are found associated with 

 the bud rot ; prominent among the latter are Pestalozzia 

 and Diplodia. The disease spreads chiefly in the 

 direction of the prevailing winds. 



Basing his advice apparently on Jamaica experi- 

 ence rather than on his own, Home recommended two 

 remedial measures : 



Flaming, or burning out, the tops of all early cases, 

 or trees suspected to have the disease. 



Spraying with Bordeaux mixture in the hope of 

 curing early cases, and for the protection of healthy 

 trees. 



With regard to his own experience with burning out 

 the material of the crown, Home says : 



A trial of flaming to cure sick trees was carried out by the 

 present writer at Baracoa in the summer of 1907. . . . No tree 

 was saved which had a well-developed case of the bud rot, and 

 none was saved in the part of the grove where the disease was 

 in its most destructive form. Some of the flamed trees Vhich 

 had been very carefully observed, and which evidently had the 

 ■ disease when treated, were apparently recovering at the last 

 visit in September. Treatments were made in March, June, 

 August, and September. 



The effect of burning a tree depends to a great extent, first, 

 on the weather ; second, on the condition of the tree. 



Of 144 trees treated in March, June, and August, 

 1907, 113 were already dead in September. The re- 

 maining 31 were said to be apparently recovering. 



The use of Bordeaux mixture was not given a good 

 test in Cuba. Five pounds of common salt was scattered 

 into the top of each of five trees supposed to have bud 

 rot ; all died with the usual symptoms except one, and 

 it is doubtful if this one ever had the disease. 



The chief reliance has certainly to be placed on the 

 careful destruction of the diseased trees, to get rid of 

 the sources of infection. The means of destruction are 

 the same the world over. As another preventive measure, 



