EXTRACTS FROM PROCEEDINGS. 



cxxxi 



observed on the shoots of the Apple forwarded by General Monro 

 were of the same character as those described by M. Lacaze- 

 Duthiers as ' Gralles internes fausses,' and considered them to be 

 the result of the irritation produced by the Apple Aphis. The 

 swellings are not confined to the neighbourhood of the buds. 



Professor Westwood also sent a communication relating to the 

 same Apple-shoots, but stated that he had failed to detect any 

 insect or trace of insect-agency in the swellings. 



A communication from M. Decaisne relating to the origin of 

 the cultivated Apple and to the nature of the Paradise Apple was 

 then read, which will appear in this Journal. 



Some observations on a disease affecting the Sugar-cane in the 

 Malayan peninsula were then read. 



u The first symptom is the sudden withering of the tips of the 

 older leaves ; this soon extends to the younger ones, and in the 

 course of a few days the whole green top is as dead in appearance 

 as if it had been scorched by fire. The cane does not follow imme- 

 diately, but sprouts at the joints for a while. These shoots, how- 

 ever, soon wither away also, and then the cane decays rapidly. 

 The disease generally commences when the canes are about four 

 or five months old, and begin to show joint above ground ; and it 

 seems from that time to go on spreading more or less quickly till 

 the canes reach maturity. On examination no trace of injury 

 from insects is perceptible ; the roots are, to all appearance, 

 healthy, and, beyond the withering of the leaves, the only evidence 

 of disease is a reddish discoloration internally, especially near 

 the joints and top. At the early stage even this discoloration is 

 scarcely perceptible, but at a more advanced one it becomes very 

 marked. Microscopic examination of those parts reveals nothing 

 that can throw light upon the cause of the disease. As a rule the 

 disease spreads from a centre, but is occasionally capricious in its 

 movements. It seems to attack by preference the strongest and 

 healthiest canes ; but the weaker ones are by no means exempt, 

 and it does not appear to be propagated through the top, as tops 

 taken from the surviving canes of a diseased field have produced 

 canes that remained healthy to the last ; and a top fairly diseased 

 will not grow at all." 



It was remarked that the sugar-plantations in the Mauritius had 

 been nearly destroyed by the same or a very similar disease. 



Mr. Home stated that he had seen the canes similarly affected 

 in India, where it was usually attributed to the effects of exces- 



