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the trees grow close together. It is assumed that the disease is infectious, 
although no strict proofs hereof exist. The disease manifests itself in this 
manner: the young shoots and leaves, instead of having the beautiful appearance 
of their kind, commence to grow out stiff and straight. The leaves stand 
erect like bristles. In the course of the disease the leaves become constantly 
narrower and more pointed, and from year to year fewer, until they have the 
appearance of fine ears with 4 rows of bristles. Then the tree soon dies. 
From all reports it appears that the course of the disease is very rapid, mostly 
extending only over a few months. The disease does not, as was at first 
believed, attack only the roots, but the whole plant. No doubt it begins at 
the roots whose extremities gradually die off, by which the supply of water 
and salts is cut off. The abnormal conditions which then occur in the for- 
mation of the blossoms, must bring about the destruction of the tree. For 
this reason, the further study of the still unexplained cause of the disease 
must be directed to the extremities of the roots. 
In the same number of the above-mentioned periodical Sir Dietrich 
Brandis expresses himself on the ''Treatment of the Sandal -tree". 
He suggests the careful study of those plants which appear as "com- 
panions" of the sandal -tree. He further recommends a close under- 
growth in the sandalwood -plantations. The cultivation should be 
carried on with self-propagated seedlings, and a sufficient area should 
be reserved, where the trees, protected from fire and contagion, can 
develop further in an undisturbed manner. The distances between 
the plants should be sufficiently large to allow of the free develop- 
ment of the crowTL of the tree. 
It is clear from the foregoing that the British Government is 
thoroughly following up the evil, and with the help of the capable 
botanists whom it has in its service, will find ways and means to 
remove it before it spreads to the other districts. If, against expec- 
tation, the disease should extend over all sandalwood districts, the 
market would, for the time being, receive very large supplies of wood 
material (as the dead trees represent normal material); but when this 
is used up, a calamity could scarcely be avoided, until the aftergrowth 
has advanced far enough to supply a substitute. 
The prices of sandalwood oil, through a competition which is 
constantly increasing in numbers and intensity, have been depressed 
to a level which is out of all proportion to the cost of production 
and trouble. Although we take no part in the price-cutting we are 
unable to accumulate stock, a proof that a reliable and strictly first- 
quality oil is still appreciated. 
The „Oranje", manufacturers of essential oils at Amsterdam, have 
issued a circular dated January 22"^ IQOS? in which they pretend to 
be particularly well placed for the distillation of Sandalwood oil, owing 
to contracts with the Mysore Government for the purchase of the 
wood. As we had reason to believe that this statement was not in 
