July 1, 190S.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
^1 
CACAO CANKEE AND HOW TO 
ERADICATE IT : 
MUST THERE BE LEGISLATION ? 
Legislation tn protect private property 
from injury throu°:h the neglect of one's 
neiglibours, has become common enough of 
recent years. In Tasmania we found a 
" Thistle Prevention Act " to protect careful, 
against careless, farming cultivation. In the 
Straits, they have been legislating to stop 
the ravages of the coconut beetle— a matter 
deserving attention in some parts of 
Ceylon ^nd the care taken in many colo» 
nies ta^ legishite against the importation 
of infecfed coffee seed and plants, are cases 
in point. [Reference to the former is found 
in the United Planters' Association lie- 
port which we pubHsh elsewhere to- 
night,] In the mother country the heroic 
measures taken to stop the spread of 
rinderpest among cattle and scab among 
sheep are examples of legislation of a severe 
type, often involving great personal hardship 
and loss. Now in Ceylon, we think the 
time has come to deal by legislation, with 
the cacao canker. We have been unduly 
critical of the Mycologist for not following 
up his most valuable work on behalf of 
cacao planters, by organising and initiating 
a system by which proprietors would be 
forced, in their own interests, to deal with 
canker, or otherwise have their estates 
reported to Government and the nearest 
Association. But on reflection we are free 
to admit that this was expecting a little 
too much of Mr, Carruthers, — especially 
during a period when he has had double 
duties devolving on him. The organisation 
we speak of should rather come, we now 
chink, from the Cacao Sub Committee of the 
Planters' Association, and we would urge 
the members to do their duty by framing 
a register (first, so far as they can learn) 
of all Cacao Gardens (or " Wattes") which 
are free of canker or other fungoid disease ; 
(2) of those suffering to some extent, but 
where a steady fight is maintained towards 
eradicating the evil ; and (3) of gardens 
affected with canker, but in wliich little or 
nothing is done to combat or eradicate it. 
If arguments in support of our proposal, 
and encouragement to the Cacao Planter 
to take up the fight and maintain it, vmtil 
victory is won, — are wanted, they will 
surely be found in the following extract 
from the Mycologist's Circular on " Cacao 
Canker in Ceylon," of October, 1901 :— 
Summary, — The position of cacao in Ceylon to 
day is liopsjfal, iind yei. not wilhout cause for some 
anxiety. Tlie pai\kpr is nuich decreased in quan- 
tity since 1398, 0:vin<^ to iiienns liavinpr been taken 
meauwh.iie to combat it, and tlie fact that no 
season specially favourable to the fungus has 
occurred. Bat it has been growing in many 
places, chiefly native holdings, and the.se diseased 
places ate a menace to the re.^b of the cacao in 
the Island. It belioves all owners or managers of 
caca) properly to satisfy themselves, as practical 
men, by reading this Circular, by personal observa- 
tions of e.states wlieie any treatment has been car- 
ried out, and by information from all whose ex- 
perience and kqowledge entitles thein to be lieatd, 
whether this disease can be les.sened by any prac- 
ticable methods. If they are satisfied as to this 
point, it is their duty to see that the cacao places 
which tliey contiol .-shall be treated, and that jires- 
sureis brought to bear on all cacao growers to take 
similar steps. 
If a general crusade were carried out in every 
cacao district in Ceylon for a few years, the canker 
would be reduced to a minimum, and tlie cost of 
guarding agaitfet and removing it in turn be de- 
creased. 
I have not been able to get a pronouncement by 
cacao growers as to their views on llie elFeet of the 
curative and preventive means used, though some 
questions bearing on the subjcc!; have l)een sent 
out by tlie Cacao Sub Coramittec of the Planters' 
Association, and the answers given will no doubt 
show the opinions of practical men. The follow- 
ing are the rules for treatment of CACao in relation 
to canker which were previously )>nblished in my 
reports, and having seen them carried out with a 
large measure of success, it is well to again lay 
them down : — 
Pret'e?i<jo«.— Regulate the shade .so that thesun 
and air can reach all parts of the c.ieao trees, and 
keep the cacao fron) being so close as by its own 
leaves to densely shade the ground. Prevent damp- 
ness by surface draining, especially in low hollows. 
Allow suckers to grow on all trees that show any 
sign of disease. Burn all dead cacao trees and 
branches. Burn all discoloured pod husks from 
whatever cause they are discoloured. (If this is 
not possible bury with lime.) Bury all pods 
under ali least two inches of soil with a sprinkling 
of lime. 
Cure. — Cut out all diseased patches on bark or 
branches, removing also a wide margin — ^not less 
than two inches — of apparently healt hy bark, and 
burn all the pieces removed. If this method is 
too expensive or too drastic, shave lightly over the 
diseased areas and around them, and burn the 
shavings. This latter treatment is not so effective 
as cutting out. Such work should be done vigo- 
rously in the dry weather, when the results are 
vastly better. Keep a gang of expert coolies 
continually on the looii out for new canker 
patches, and have these parts removed before they 
spread far or produce their spores. Notice any 
dead cacao trees or branches on neighbouring 
small holdings, and eudeavoAir to get these removed 
and burnt. These sanitary measures should be 
carried out on all estates, even v/hcre the canker 
is very rare, and the personal oversight of the super- 
intendent seems to be the only way to prevent 
small patches of disease being missed in going 
round. It is much better to take a longer time in 
going round the estate and have work thoroughly 
done than to cover large areas and overlook some 
canker. 
There can be no doubt that concerted action 
of this kind would save a great deal to 
nearly all cacao proprietors in the long- 
run ; and it will certainly be necessary if 
voluntary co-operative action as suggested 
s not taken, to move for legislation. Per- 
haps, the sooner our scientific staff, both 
the Mycologist and Entomologist, are backed 
by ordinances, just as Sanitary Officers are, 
compelling the abatement of " nuisances, 'the 
better for our planting and agricultural 
prosperity and advancernent in the future. 
