516 



a sign that something has interfered with the water supply to the parts 

 above ground; it is due to the "ringing" of the tap root by the fungus. 

 Little or no latex will flow out in response to a wound in the stem. 

 Occasionally the leaves fall off, but generally before this happens the 

 tree is blown down. Sometimes a healthy looking tree falls over, the 

 leaves remain green, and the plant apparently continues to grow. If 

 the roots are examined all will be found to be dead except one or two 

 lateral roots which still supply the necessary nourishment ; and it is 

 only a question of days or at most weeks until these are killed. 



Owing to the destruction of some of the lateral roots by the para- 

 site a tree frequently loses its firm hold in the soil and is shaken about 

 by the wind causing a cup-shaped depression round the collar. 

 This may go on for many days before the tree shows any other signs 

 of the disease but it is a pretty sure indication of the presence of root 

 disease, and the "shuck" tree, as planters term it, sh >uld be treated 

 as infected and incurable. 



The following extracts taken at random from letters sent into the 

 Department from different districts give an idea of the uniformity of 

 the symptoms as observed by planters. 



A " The first signs are the leaves turning a 



metallic colour, drooping, and then falling off. It does not show until 



the trees are practically dead the high lands seem 



as subject to it as the valleys or flats estate 



virgin jungle." 



B "The diseased plants are scattered over 



the estate, but in one instance four or five were together. The leaves 



generally become a rusty colour from the bottom upwards 



there is no inclination to topple over except where white 



ants have eaten the roots ground well drained, 



plants from one and a half to two years old 



estate virgin jungle." 



C "In sporadic instances over the planted 



area well-nurtured trees (mostly eighteen months old) have suddenly 



died back ten cases on 300 acres in the last six 



months ; this in itself is not serious, but one has to look to the future, 

 especially as fungus seems to be the cause." 



D " On this estate there is somewhat heavy 



mortality among trees of 20-30 months old the 



disease is especially rapid as noted above ground 



trees appear " shuck ; " leaves crumple and in the course of a day or 



two fall off sickness attacks not in isolated cases 



but in clumps of adjacent trees. The tap root seems to be first attacked. 

 The neighbouring estate in same lie of country seems to be free of the 

 disease." 



E " About a dozen have died-out on 26 acres 



each root has a white thready growth on it 



virgin jungle other trees 



healthy looking those that have died have been 



in different parts of the land." 



