BULLETIN OF INFORMATION IN REGARD TO AGRICULTURAL 



MATTERS. 



No. 1. 



THE GOVERNOR directs the publication of the following digest of correspondence pre- 

 pared by the Superintendent of Botanic Gardens relative to a Fungal disease which 

 has become very destructive in the Island of Jamaica among crops of plants known as 

 Colocasia esculenta and C. antiquorum, the produce of which is variously known by the 

 local name of " Cocoes," « Eddoes," " Taro," " Tanias," or " Tanniers." 



At the end of, or towards the close of, the year 188G, the atterition of the Government 

 of Jamaica was called by J. T. Wigham, Esq., Stipendiary Magistrate for Portland, to the 

 prevalence of a " rot" or disease among the " Cocoes" cultivated in the district. Mr. 

 Wigham reported that owing to the disease the article was only procurable in rapidly 

 decreasing quantities, while in former years besides forming the chief food supply of the 

 labouring classes, they were used in large quantities for the purpose of fattening swine. 



A question which thus affected the food supply of the people was considered by the 

 Jamaica Government to be of serious import, and the then Acting Chief of the Jamaica 

 Botanical Department was instructed to visit the district and report upon the subject, who 

 after carefully examining the various lands in cultivation and the plants affected, secured 

 specimens for microscopical examination, after accomplishing which he furnished a Report 

 to the Jamaica Government which in a condensed form was to the following effect : — 



(a.) " That the disease appeared to attack in the first instance the base of the root, 

 causing it to rot and the leaves to assume a yellow and wrinkled appearance, 

 often destroying the entire plant defore the offsets or edible portion became fit 

 for use. 



(b.) " It was pointed out that the disease was probably due to the action of a 

 destructive microscopic fungus which was found on examination to be present 

 in the roots, one nearly allied to the destructive potato rot, Peronospora 

 infestans. 



(c.) " It was recommended, in view of the foregoing, that great care should be 

 exercised in subsequent cultivations by obtaining (if possible) ' heads' from 

 districts where the disease did not exist, and further to burn all infected 

 plants, and not use then) for feeding animals in a raw state ; which would tend 

 to spread the disease. 



(d.) " It was suggested for farther confirmation that a set of specimens should be 

 submitted to a specialist in Mycological science, and for that purpose some 

 were sent to the care of the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, asking him 

 to place them in the hands of a gentleman conversant with this class of work. 



(e.) " The specimens were placed by the Kew authorities in the hands of Mr. Massee 

 for examination and report, with the result that the primary report was fully 

 confirmed and the species of fungus determined by Mr. Massee as Peronospora 

 trichotoma. — n. sp. 



(/.) " The suggestions made to cultivators, in the primary report, were also fully 

 confirmed by the opinions of Messrs. Massee and Morris, and have since been 

 endorsed by Mr. Fawcett, tho lately appointed Director of Public Gardens and 

 Plantations in Jamaica, who summarizes them somewhat in the following 

 manner : — 



(g.) " ' The attention of Magistrates, Clergy and others interested in the food 

 supply of the people should be drawn especially to the recommendations 

 that all plants however slightly affected should be burnt at once ; that all 

 infected ground should be planted with other crops ; an interchange of good 

 ' heads' for planting should be made, and generally that rotation of crops should 

 be adopted.' " 



The discovery of the disease has been deemed of such scientific importance that a 

 paper on the species of Fungi causing it has been read before the Linnean Society of 

 London by Messrs. Massee and Morris, which paper, when published, may probably afford 

 further information as to the best means of combating it. In the meantime, should the 

 disease unhappily be present in the Island of Trinidad (or anything resembling it), it is 

 of importance that the fact should be at once communicated to the Superintendent of 

 Botanic Gardens, Mr. J. H. Hart, Avho will at the earliest moment render his .advice as to 

 its identification with the Jamaica disease and afford other hints that may prove useful in 

 the endeavour to exterminate it. Should it be found upon enquiry that the Island is free 

 from the disease, then the efforts of all cultivators should be directed to see that it is not 

 introduced by imported plants from other Colonies. 



J. H. HART, 



March 31st, 1887. Superintendent Botanic Gardens. 



By Command, 



H. W. CHANTRELL, 

 Acting Colonial Secretary. 



. Government House, 



2nd April, 1887, 



■ljt - : 163368 



