284 



Th Supplement to the Tropical A griculturist 



Bordeaux Mixture. I do not propose to 

 criticise the remedial measures recom- 

 mended by Mr. Petch, the Government 

 Mycologist, but a paragraph in your issue of 

 the 18th instant says: — " There is hardly an 

 ounce of Sulphate of Copper (the chemical re- 

 commended to be used by Mr. Petch) left in 

 Colombo." 



As the Government authorities have been 

 so long in advising us what to do, the pest 

 meanwhile spreading far and wide, and estab- 

 lishing itself so as to be almost ineradicable 

 now, is it too much to ask the Govern- 

 ment to come now promptly to the aid 

 of the coconut proprietors by speedily im- 

 porting sufficient quantities of the salt (Sul- 

 phate of Copper — Palmanikkan) to be sold 

 at reasonable rates (not above what was 

 lately the market price, R28 per cwt. or 25 

 cents per lb.) 



As for Deemig pumps, &c, I think, the 

 majority of the natives will be satisfied with the 

 ordinary whitewashing brush and an earthen 

 chatty while a coconut tree climber can use to 

 apply the mixture from top to bottom of the 

 tree, if it be recommended that the whole tree 

 be made imm ine. 



But what about the nuts, which are ap- 

 parently directly affected through the husk by 

 this fungus. Should these also be painted 

 over — and when ? It is now over 6 months 

 since I first drew attention to the fact that the 

 nuts were also attacked by the fungus, and as 

 yet no report has appeared from Peradeniya 

 bearing on this development of the disease. I 

 have ascertained that even the nuts of perfectly 

 healthy trees are liable to be attacked, and have 

 sent a fresh specimen of such an affected nut 

 in husk to Peradeniya. 



I am sorry that I was not permitted to ex- 

 hibit some specimens of diseased nuts, or rather 

 nuts attacked by the fungus, to His Excellency 

 when he came toNegombo on Friday for the 

 express purpose of seeing for himself the 

 ravages of the fungus. Why it was not deemed 

 desirable that the Governor should be shown 

 the specimens 1 cannot understand — it would 

 not have taken up more than a minute of his 

 time. All I can say is I know this also is 

 spreading more and more and the attacks of the 

 fungus appear to be increasing in virulence. 

 Bud Rot. This is far more serious than any 

 fungoid attacks, as no remedy has been found, 

 the rot proving invariably fatal to the tree. 



No external signs of the disease (for this is 

 really a disease) are manifest until the rot has 

 proceeded far enough to cause the shrivelling 

 of the nut in husks and their subsequent drop- 

 ping to the ground. The withering thereafter 

 of the branches and the bending over of the 

 crown of the tree is only a matter of a few days. 



I am afraid, Sir, this dire disease is spreading 

 in the Island. Mr. Petch tells me it has occur- 

 red in the Kurunegala district. I understand 

 that it has also appeared in the Batticaloa dis- 

 trict. Mr. Wright, of Mirigama, has had a few 

 oases. Mr. Nicholas and I thought we saw five 

 cases along the coach road, judging by the bend- 

 ing over of the crowns and the appearance of the 

 branches, and I informed Mr. Petch on Friday 

 that a Sinhalese gentleman, S. D. Cornelis, 

 has had some 10 cases at Andiambalama (near 

 Minuwangoda), and Waring Bungalow Estate 

 (near Golua Pokuna). Considering the gravity of 

 the position and the enormous interests in- 

 volved, both the Government and the native 

 population, Sinhalese and Tamil, beii.g largely 

 interested in the coconut, areca and palmyrah 

 palms (the latter of which also showing liabi- 

 lity to attack, and I believe also the kitul) 

 do you not think, Sir, we should ask the Indian 

 Government to lend us the services of Dr. 

 Bulter the eminent Imperial Mycologist, who 

 is an authority on fun n i, and who has made a 

 study of the diseases of the coconut palm. 

 Investigations carried out by him here in 

 Ceylon will also be of service to South India. 



JOHN D. VANDERSTRAATEN. 



DRIED BANANAS FROM CEYLON. 



A French correspondent, writing us from 

 Bordeaux on 14th February, says: — I know for 

 a fact that socae of this product (dried bananas) 

 has been exported and sent to the London mar- 

 ket from Ceylon, but I ha^e found no reference 

 to it in the list of exports from your island, 

 am told that the trial shipment to England 

 did not find favour there, but since I have 

 ascertained that a regular trade could be made 

 here and in Northern Europe with an article 

 well preserved and packed up— both edible, and 

 also dried for the purpose to be turned into 

 flour. Do you know of any firm engaged in this 

 business ? As cacao growing requires plenty of 

 shade afforded by banana trees, this last fruit, 

 if well treated, could be exported in large 

 quantities. 



