M8 THE TROPICAL 
over a period of drought and it was probable that 
they could remain without growing, yet retiiii- 
ing their vitality for months, probaljiy years. 
The gonodia spores were fitted to quickly spread 
the fungus while damp conditio'us prevailed. 
Unfortunately this fungus did hot live 
only in the bark of the tree, it was ' found 
and only too coniinonlj on the pods and 
its life history on the pods was the same as 
previously described except that the time taken 
to produce all its spores was very mUcli less. On 
the pod the whole life history could be gone 
through within under 10 days, whereas the same 
number of months only sulficed when it gre\V 
on the bark. The canker on the pods was very 
important as it reduced the crop and it was still 
more important as it was the chief means of 
spreading the disease because of the rapidity the 
funges could grow in the softer tissues on the 
pod. With regard to rules for combating this 
and other diseases, in the first place it was per- 
fectly clear that all spore masses as far as possible 
should be destroyed by burning and it was im- 
ossible to too strongly insist upon the funda- 
mental importance of that measure. The lecturer 
then mentioned an instance of a small native hold- 
ing not far from Kandy, which he visited recently 
on his way to an estate. He Svent to the hold- 
ing and on examination found over 100 
dead trees covered from top tO bottom 
with spores, many others dying arid the whole 
place practically a spore farm. Unfortunately 
there svas no Ordinance in Ceylon to compel 
owners to reduce danger of infection and it 
would be a matter of importance to planters to 
consider whether they could not arrange some 
means of getting such spore farms treated on 
sanitary principles. 
At the conclusion of the lecture; Mr. Carru- 
THERS, in answer to some strongly expressed views 
of Mr. Chas. Gibbon, deprecated the views widely 
held by planters that there was any special pre- 
disposition of the cacao tree to take the canker. 
The lecturer pointed out that all vievv-s of that 
kind should be rigidly tested by carefully con- 
ducted experiments. In his experience healthy 
caoao trees weie quite as liable as sickly ones to 
take infection nOrdid manuring enable a plant to 
" throw-off ' the disease. This opinion was very 
common among horticulturists and farmers, but in 
the majority of cases of fungal disease it had 
no foundation. 
Mr. Gibbon referred to the reported remark of 
Mr. Arden that cacao would cease to be culti- 
vated owing to the canker. ■ 
Mr. Carruthers in reply said that Mr. Arden, 
who was undoubtedly competent in horticultural 
matters, had stated his views oh iusutiicient evid- 
ence having visited one estate and that badly can- 
kered but from his (the lecturer's) knowledge of 
large areas of pacao, if cg-re was used and money 
spent, the effects of the disease could be reduced so 
that cacao might be grown to a profit and might 
go on and increase. 
The Chairman, Mr. Webb, proposed a vote of 
thanks to Mr. Cairuthers for ids allle lecture 
which was carried with acclamation.— iTaiicZ.y Cor. 
.—^ — . . . - 
HOME-MADE GUANO OF UNEQUALLED 
EXCELLENCE. 
Save all your fowl manure from sun and rain. 
To prepare it for use, spread a layer of dry swamp 
muck (the blacker, it is the better) on your barn 
door, and dump on it the whole of your fowl 
AGRICULTURIST. [Nov. J, I'.'OO. 
liianure ; beat it into a fine powder with the back 
of .your spade; this done, add hard wood ashes 
aucl pla&ter (gypsum), so that the compound shall 
Be composed of the following portions :— 
Dried muck 3 bushels 
Fowl manure, 2 bushels 
Ashes, 1 bushel 
Plaster, li bushel 
Mix thoroughly and spare no labour ; for in this 
matter the elbow-grease expended will be well 
paid for- A little before planting moisten the 
heap with water or, better still, with urine, cover 
>vell over with old mats, and let it lie till wanted 
for use. Apply it to beans, corn, or potatoes at 
the rate of a handful to a hill, and mix with the 
soil before dropping the seed. This will be found 
the best substitute for guano ever invented, aud 
may be depended on for bringing great crops of 
turnips, corn, potatoes, etc—Queensland Country 
Life, Sept. 22. 
PLANTING IN DOMINICA. 
(To the Editor of the Times.) 
Sir, — The very iuterestiog account given in the 
Times of today by Mr. H. Hesketh Bell as to the 
capabilities of Dominica applies to most of the West 
India islands. As head of the Jamaica Botanical 
Pepartment for long period of years I cordially en- 
dorse Mr. Ilsll's sympathetic declarations as to the 
latent resources of these islands — resources which 
are unsurpassed with regard to moat of the cultures 
to which he has directed attention. 
I shall not trespass ou your space further than 
to say that Domiuica, with which i am acquainted, 
presents peculiarly attractive conditious to young 
English adventurers to embark upon most of the 
cultures indicated by Mr. Bell. It may be farther 
stated thai it would be impossible to render a great 
service to hundreds of young well-to-do Englishmen 
than to recommend them to turn their energies tc this 
most interesting feature of colonial life. — Yours obe- 
dient servant, R0f3ERT THOMSON. 
Grass Mount, Queen's-road, Forest-hill, Sept. 20. 
— London Times, Sept. 25. 
SULPHATE OF AMMONIA OR SALT- 
PETRE AS TEA MANURE. 
With reference to what has already ap- 
peared re Sulphate of Ammonia as a Manure 
for Tea, Messrs. Preudenberg H, Co. have now 
placed at our disposal the letter of another 
German authority, Professor Stutzer of the 
Government Research Station at Konigsberg. 
who has taken a great interest in Scientific 
Manuring in general aud Manuring of Tropical 
'Plants in particular. The following is a copy 
of the letter i^ef erred to ; — 
"I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter 
of 21st August. Sulphate of Ammonia is an ex- 
cellent nitrogenous fertiliser and there is no 
reason ^vhy it should be discredited in the culti- 
vation of Tea. In Europe Sulphate of Ammonia 
has, of late, gained considerably in favor compared 
to Saltpetre and rightly so; the unit Nitrogen 
in the form of Sulphate of Ammonia now com- 
mands a much higher figure than that in 
the form of Saltpetre. Whether this is, in every 
case correct I should not like to maintain, I only 
■ mention it to show that our farmers fully ap- 
preciate the value of Sulphate of Ammonia. 
There is. no reason why Sulphate of Ammonia 
as a fertiliser should be discontinued in a Tropical 
Climate ; it can be applied to Tea as well as to any 
other pei'eniiial. That it ought not to be applied 
by itself, but along with others Manures, .sup- 
plying Phosphoric Acid and Potash, goes without 
saying." . ' 
