327 



coidea, which causes the "red rust" of tea; but, whereas 

 the latter lives 011 the surface of the leaves of tea and most 

 tropical trees without causing much damage, Qephaleuros 

 parasitica lives inside the leaf, and only its fruiting 

 branches are visible externally like a tuft of minute red 

 hairs. C. parasitica is fairly common on cinnamon and tea 

 in the low country; on cinnamon it causes a dark-brown, 

 stellate, raised patch, while on tea it produces a spot which 

 superficially resembles "Grey Blight." The red spot on 

 clove leaves is due to the death of the tissues attacked by 

 the alga, not to the colour of the latter. Neither on tea, nor 

 cinnamon, nor clove does it cause any serious damage. 

 Some of the branches of the clove trees were found to be 

 killed by Loranthus cuneatus; and in one case, where a 

 branch had been broken off', the main stem was attacked 

 by Fames sub sty gins f which is thus proved to be a wound 

 parasite. 



CASTILLOA VERSUS PARA RUBBER. 



In a little book published for the La Zacualpa Rubber 

 Company by 0. H. Harrison there are some statements of 

 interest as to growth and yield of the Castilloa trees which 

 are cultivated at La Zacualpa estate in Soconusco, Chiapas 

 State, Mexico. 



The Castilloa of this region is described by Mr. 0. F. 

 Cook as a new species under the name of Castilloa lactiflua 

 to distinguish it from other species of which the milk does 

 not flow freely but has to be collected in the form of scrap. 



The Castilloa rubber is described as next to Para in 

 quality, far more productive in quantity and of all rubber 

 trees responding most readily to cultivation. 



One feels bound to say however that the account given 

 of the returns in the booklet hardly bears out these state- 

 ments. 



The estate comprises 10,000 acres planted. The trees 

 are stated to reach the height of fifty feet and a diameter 

 of 12 to 18 inches in a wild state, and as much as 25 pounds 

 of rubber is said to have been taken from a tree in one 

 season. 



In 1889 and 1890, 5000 trees were planted and are now 

 (1908) on an average 18 to 20 inches in diameter and 40-50 

 feet tall and yield 2!> lbs. about per tree. 



