26 



the other a Botrytis. The last mentioned was also found on canes 

 sent previously by Mr. Bovell, and it was suggested at the time that 

 it might be connected with the disease. But further investigation has 

 not in any way confirmed this ; the Botrytis may for the future be 

 dismissed from consideration. 



The sugar-cane disease in Java, called Rood Snot* is apparently the 

 same thing, and it would be interesting to ascertain if this is the source 

 from which it has been introduced into the West Indies. 



Summary. 



The disease is caused by a parasitic fungus called Oolletotrichum 

 falcatum, "Went., and the evidence points to the injudicious use of 

 diseased canes for propagation as the cause of the injury to the crop 

 which is now experienced. 



Preventive Measures. 



1. All diseased canes ahould be burnt and not allowed to decay 

 naturally. 



2. Perfectly healthy canes should be used for propagation, and to 

 secure this, the canes should be obtained from an area not infected 

 with the disease. 



3 Mr. Bovell, in a letter addressed to Kew, says: — " I have managed 

 "to stamp out the disease here by growing other crops on the fields 

 " attacked, for a year or two." This is a very essential point, as the 

 litter of the cane leaves, &c. on the ground will be infected with the 

 fungus, and perfectly healthy plants would be attacked if planted at 

 once on an infected site. 



4. There is reason to think that if perfectly healthy and uninfected 

 canes were only used for propagation, the disease would not be found 

 to give much trouble. 



Extract from Letter from Director of Royal Gardens, Kew. 

 3rd November, 1893. 



* * * .* 



The disease is totally distinct from that which was the subject of 



my letter of April 5 last. It is practically identical with one which 



exists in Java, from which it is not improbable that it has been 



introduced. 



It is evident that the weak point in sugar-cane cultivation in the 

 West Indies is the want of care in the propagation of the canes. The 

 very finest and most healthy canes should be scrupulously selected and 

 set apart for the purpose. Unfortunately, any weakly or even diseased 

 canes appear to be thought good enough. Apparently, in consequence 

 of this short-sighted practice, a disease, which under ordinary circum- 

 stances would have been of little moment, has assumed troublesome 

 dimensions. 



It appears to me that the cultivation of the sugar-cane generally in 

 Barbados is not prosecuted with much intelligence. The outbreak of 

 disease in a cultural staple is not always to be looked upon as simply 

 " the act of God/' but is often aggravated, if not actually produced, by 

 the neglect of reasonable precautions. 



I long ago pointed out, and it is now beginning to be understood, 

 that an immense deal can be done for the improvement of the sugar- 

 cane by the continuous selection for propagation of the best possible 



* Hot Rood Smt: Dr. Went (H. van Ingen Soerabaia, 1893). 



