280 



opinion is that it would not pay expenses for the Government to main- 

 tain it, and I doubt whether it would pay any private individual even if 

 he lived on the spot, unless he could get a constant supply of water, or 

 unless he could utilise the land for other purposes. 



The Liguanea plain is a dry district, and like the Palisadoes quite 

 unlit for the growth of the coco-nut unless water can be supplied 

 artificially. 



In some instances I found a large beetle (Strategus titanus) attack- 

 ing the " cabbage" of coco-nut palms, thereby giving opportunities for 

 the attacks of various parasitic fungi, which soon destroyed the terminal 

 bud, and led to the death of the tree. In other cases the large white 

 grub of the same beetle was seen gnawing the roots. 



I also noticed the base of a diseased trunk of a coco-nut riddled with 

 the holes of a small boring beetle, and on cutting it down found the 

 passages made by the insect very numerous, some containing the white 

 grub of the beetle, and the whole of the tissue of the trunk smelling 

 strong of a fermentation set up as a consequence of the attack. 



In other instances I could find no specific cause of unhealthiness 

 except the drought, and I believe that with the return of rains, these 

 would soon recover. 



I have also examined portions of various diseased plants sent to 

 me by post, but as a rule it is necessary to examine the plant where it 

 grows. 



It is probable that an unhealthy condition of a plant whether due to 

 want of water, to too great abundance of moisture in the soil keeping 

 out air, or to some other cause, may lead to such abnormal growth or 

 want of growth, that insects and fungi are able to make the successful 

 attacks which they could not accomplish in health. This consideration 

 accounts frequently for the appearance of scale-insects, which again 

 disappear with the return of the normal conditions of the climate. 



It is advisable however to keep a close watch on all plants, and by 

 attending to early svmptoms, prevent the disease or pest running its 

 course and becoming epidemic. The risk of a disease spreading is 

 enormouslv increased where plants are cultivated all together on a large 

 scale, and I anticipate that growers of Orange trees and Grape vines 

 will have to pav strict attention in future to diseases which only become 

 important as we begin to grow their hosts on an extensive scale. 



Xotes on the subject of diseases of plants due to the attacks of 

 insects and fungi occasionally appear in the Bulletin. 



HERBARIUM. 



The following are new additions to the flora of Jamaica, obtained 

 during the year : — 

 New Genus, Species and varieties described from Plants found 



in Jamaica. 



Loranthacece : 



Phoradendrum tetrapterum, Kr. et Urb. (Engler's Botan. Jahrb, 

 xxiv.) 



P. quadrandulare, Kr. et. Urb., var. gracile, Kr. et Urb. (l.c.) j 

 P. Wattii, Kr. et Urb. (La) 



