521 



on 1882 gave on May 5th 1909 a height of 81 feet and a girth of 7.5 

 at one foot from the ground and 5. 10 at 4 feet. From the tables 

 given it appears that the trees put on a girth of from 2 to 3 inches 

 annually, which though less than comparatively young trees 

 (as many of the Madras trees are) usually grow is by no means a 

 poor growth. It is regrettable that for measurements of tree 

 growth the measurement are not taken at the almost invariable 

 height taken namely at 3 feet from the ground. This height 

 is found to be the most convenient one, and a uniform standard 

 should be adopted for purposes of comparison. The measurement 

 of girth at one foot is valueless, as trees vary so much in 

 dimensions at the base, and measurements to form a valuable 

 table of growth should be taken on the same day of each year or as 

 near to it as is practicable. Examining the tables given in the report 

 however, one may gather that the growth of the trees in spite of the 

 scantiness of rain and the long dry spell is quite good enough for 

 practical purposes, though considerably slower than in a rainier 

 country. 



Many of the trees are reported as being sufficiently developed for 

 tapping and the rubber was reported on at the Imperial Institute as 

 good but rather weak as the trees were young. So there is it seems 

 a future for Para rubber cultivation in Madras. All the same the 

 growth of Castilloa seems to be better than that of Para rubber, the 

 trees running to a good size and making steady growth, and from 

 latitude one would certainly expect this tree to do better, but Mr. 

 Proundlock reports that it has fallen into disfavour with planters 

 and there is no demand for it. It is quite possible however, that 

 Castilloa may play an important part in the agriculture of India at a 

 later date.— Ed. 



THE BLACK HEVEA FUNGUS. 



Another sample of the black fungus described in the July 

 number of the Bulletin, page 3 10, has been received at the Botanic 

 Gardens, Singapore, from Selangor. In this case the fungus had 

 attacked stumps about 3 inches in girth. No less than 80 per cent, 

 of the stumps were found to be killed by this pest. In this case the 

 fructification of the fungus had appeared in abundance at a height 

 of 2 feet and all down the tap root. This shows that the fungus does 

 not confine itself to the upper branches of trees, but, apparently, it 

 can attack almost any young part of the plant. Dangerous and 

 troublesome as this pest is likely to prove to young plants in nur- 

 series, it wou'd be more so if it attacked adult trees or trees in bearing, 

 not only on account of the greater loss; but also because it would be 

 much more difficult to deal with. 



In any case this seems likely to prove as dangerous a plant as 

 the Fomes, ii not worse and its history and the best means of com- 

 batting, it should at once be carefully investigated. — Ed, 



