217 



Fungus on Para Rubber Tree. 



The fungus proves to be an undescribed species of Eutypa, and 

 will be called E. caiilivora. It is probably a true parasite, judging 

 from what is known respecting other species of Eutypa, a constant 

 feature of which is that the fungus persistently remains in a vegeta- 

 tive — and thus aggressive — condition, so long as its host remains 

 alive, and only comes to the surface to produce fruit when the host 

 is absolutely dead. The numerous black streaks, deep in the wood of 

 the specimen sent, are produced by the mycelium of the fungus, 

 which in all probability permeated the whole of the wood, and had 

 been at work for a considerable period of time. Such a development 

 of mycelium is unknown as a post mortem result. 



George Massee. 

 6/iv/io. 



Dr. Prain adds : " I do not like the look of the thing at all. " 



My impression was that it was altogether a post mortem fungus, 

 but it is possible that this is not the case. I cannot find any account 

 of any species of the genus in such fungus books as we have here, so 

 cannot add any more information about it. 



As the plant does not produce fruit till the tree is quite dead and 

 indeed not for some weeks later, there ought to be no difficulty in 

 keeping it from doing damage by simply destroying all dead trees or 

 timber and taking care not to leave piles of logs and sticks lying 

 about near the plantation. But as in all other cases the planter must 

 keep a sharp look-out for this as for any other fungus,- and nip it in 

 the mycelium. 



Death from unknown cause even of one or two seedlin2:s ought 

 to be investigated by the planter, and if he cannot convince himself 

 reasonably that it was due to definite accident, or is not clear as to 

 the cause, he should at least watch to see if it is disease and is show- 

 ing signs of spreading. We have seen a case of out-break of Fomes 

 put down by the planter as due to oversetting of the trees by wind, 

 when it was sufficiently obvious that wind could not have blown over 

 those particular trees. 



It is a matter of sound policy for the planter on finding trees 

 dying suspiciously to call the attention of one of the- scientific staffs 

 to the fact, with a view of checking the outbreak. 



A native concealing a case of cholera or small-pox in his house 

 is properly punished and it should be made imperative that cases of 

 such infectious diseases as Diplodia should be reported to the Agri- 

 cultural Authorities to take measures or cause measures to be taken 

 to stop the disease at once. Plant disease indeed should be as much 

 under control as animal disease. 



