379 



due to a fungus which enters the plant by the rootlets, gradually 

 extending over the whole plant and eventually killing it. If such a 

 root is split, the woody portion is seen to be of a dingy yellowish- 

 brown colour, which becomes more marked if left open for a short 

 time- When a plant has been attacked for about three weeks, the 

 lower portion of the stem is usually covered with a delicate white 

 bloom of milde^v, but the disease can always l)e identified by a 

 brownish ring just within the bark at the base of tlie stem or in the 

 thicker portions of the root. 



Treatment. 



All diseased plants should be uprooted immediately the disease 

 is noticed and should be burned. 



After removing the diseased plants add liberal dressings of quick- 

 liliie to the soil or sterilise it by heat. 



Use good strong sturdy plants at the commencement, avoiding 

 weak spindly plants. Allow the plants plenty of light, air and room 

 for growth. 



Black-stripe of Tomatoes. 



This disease is sometimes known as Black rot. The fruit is most 

 frequently attacked, discoloured patches appearing, which become 

 slightly sunken owing to collapse of the tissues. Such patches soon 

 become covered with a delicate velvety pile of blackish-olive colour. 

 The fungus sometimes forms long, blackish stripes on the stem, and 

 irregular shaped blotches on the leaves. 



Preventative Measures. 



Infection can only take place through a wound. Minute cracks 

 on the fruit expose the fruit to infection and are often the result of 

 overfeeding more especially when green manure is used. Burn all 

 infected fruits or plants ns soon as noticed. 



In many instances plants are practically destroyed by the attacks 

 of Green Fly, Thrip, Red Spider and a White fly, the latter being 

 perhaps the most destructive. They may be kept in check and often 

 removed by repeatedly syringing with a weak solution of XL All 

 Insecticide, the ultimate success depending largely on the thorough- 

 ness of the operator. 



J. W. ANDERSON. 



DURATION OF VITALITY OF PARA RUBBER 



SEEDS. 



On the tliirty -first of January, a box of 6oo Para rubber seed was 

 packed for a German planter to go to German New Guinea. The 

 seeds were packed as usual in a tin box 12 inches long, 8 inches wide 

 and 5 inches deep, in layers of burnt rice husk, and the box was 

 covered with canvas stitched over it. The planter, however, omitted 



