February i, 1892.] 
THE TROPICAL AORIOULTlJRISt. 
585 
be enough for an acre, as the proprietors of the 
patent appear to think, the cost per square yard for 
tlie clieniical will l)e a mere trifle. 
;-!. Since these proceedings were drafted, a small 
quantity of the chemical (a little over one pound) 
has lieeu received from lVfelboui:ne with G. O., dated 
29th October la90, No. 81.''). This will be tried at 
Saidapet under the supervision of Mr. Keess and Sub- 
Assistant Director Mr. Subba Row at a strength of 
1 lb. in 6 gallons of water applied to GO square yards 
which is the rate which has actually been found to be 
effective in Australia. According to the proprietors 
the same solution would seem to be sufficient for 
about twelve times the area. Tliis will also be 
tested by actual experiments as far as possible with 
solutions of the chemical varying in strength from 
1 lb. in () gallons to 1 lb. in 20 gallons. Tlie latter 
strength was found to be sutficieut for killing young 
prickly-pear at Tricliinopol}'. 
'1. One important point wliich should be carefully 
borne in mind in nurking these experiments is that 
a solution of the "Scrub Exterminator," if allowed to 
come in contact with the skin, causes some abrasion, 
and if allowed to come in contact with the finger 
nails causes much pain, and tliat cattle are apt to 
be poisoned if they eat scrulj or grass saturated with 
it. The proprietors state that stock should not be 
allowed access to the ground operated upon for about 
a week. 
EEPORT ON Tlli-: COCONUT DISEASE 
AT MONTEGO BAY. 
Botanical Department, Gordon Town P. O., 
24th July, 1891. 
Sir, — I have the honour to report that I liave 
visited Montego Bay to examine into the death 
on a large scale of Coconut Palms in that 
neighbourhood. 
Several trees were cut down, and the roots, stem, 
leaves, and cabbage examined. There was no 
evidence whatever of attacks by a beetle, there 
were some small larvte, some wood lice, earwigs, 
ants of several species and other insects on the 
affected parts, but they were evidently only preying 
on the diseased juices, and were not the cause of the 
disease. 
The roots were quite sound and the stem appeared 
to be unaffected. Both stem and leaves were of 
nornuil size, and there was no indication of a 
gradual dwindling of vitality due to lack of proper 
nourisliment extending over a long period. The 
disease, whatever it might be, seemed to be 
quick in destruction. 
The youngest parts were those affected. The 
leaves and "flowers in the bud were sometimes 
able, though affected, to withstand the disease so 
far as to open out, and some leaves and nuts 
attained almost their full development before the 
tree succumbed. In the case of tall trees, the 
first indication of the disease was the dropping of 
the young fruit. It was stated that the disease in this 
condition had been cliecked by setting fire to the 
fibrous nuiterial at the base of the leaves, which 
process burnt all the leaves ; new fronds, however, 
developed, and the tree was at any rate for the 
time saved. The application of salt to the cabbage 
liad also, it was alleged, been successful. 
If -the terminal bud in the cabbages is aiiected, 
the tree is doomed. 
In almost all tlje trees examined, the sour smell 
of a putrefactive ferme station was very noticeable, 
and 1 am of tlie opinion that the disease is due 
to an organised ferment which is able to attack tlie 
very lender tissues of the youngest parts, even out- 
side the terniiiuU bud If this ferment can be de- 
stroyed 1)V lire or other means Ijefore it readies the 
terminal bud in the heart of the cabbage the tree 
may be saved. 
Any remedy should therefore be applied on the 
very tirst signs of disease. If de'ayed Loo lung until 
the terminal bud is diseased, Llie tree cannot be 
saved. 
Although to fire the fibre at the base of the leaves 
is easy of application, it is not safe near buildings, 
i and by the destruction of the leaves, the production 
of fruit is for a long time retarded with consequent 
1 loss. 
! I would x'ecommend that those who do not care 
to apply fire should drench tlie cabbage witii a 
solu ion of sulphate of iron in water in the propor- 
tion of two pounds of sulphate to one gallon of 
I water. A solution of sulphate of copper might also 
! be tried in the proportion of f> parts to 100 of water 
: and a solution of boracic acid in the proportion of 
] 4 parts to 100 of water. 
i All diseased trees whicli cannot be saved, should 
be cut down and burnt, to prevent infection, 
j In order to give the tree every chance of recovery 
. the soil might be scraped away from the roots and 
j the ashes of the burnt trees applied together with 
I some manure. 
It may be said that these remedial experiments are 
I costly, but on tlie other hand the annual value of 
each tree is stated to be at least four shillings. — I 
have, &c., (Signed) W. Fawcett, Director of Public 
Gardens and Plantations. 
The Hoii'ble the Colonial Secretary. 
^ 
COCOA: SAMPLES EEOM LONDON MARKET. 
The following correspondence transmitted by the 
Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Jamaica 
Government on the subject of Cocoa has reference 
to samples received from Messrs. Wilson, Smithett 
& Co., through the kind oflices of Kew. The samples 
have been placed in the Museum of the Jamaica 
Institute for ready inspection by those interested. 
liomil Garde iirt, Keii\ to Colonial Office. 
Royal Gardens, Kew, 1st July, 1891. 
Sir, — lam desired by Mr. Thiselton Dyer to inform 
you that he has received from Mr. W. Fawcett, 
Director of the Botanical Department, Jamaica, an 
application for samples of commercial Cacao as it 
is usually received in the London market, for the 
pxirpose of bringing before planters in Jamaica the 
appearence and ouality of Cacao which receives the 
highest prices. 
2. In furtherance of Mr. Fawcett's wishes applica- 
tion was made by this Establishment to a firm of 
brok^'s in the City and the enclosed report, with a 
set ' of samples, has been received from Messrs. 
Wilson, Smithett & Co. The samples are being 
forwarded direct to the address of the Director of the 
Botanical Deparment, Jamaica, by the outgoing mail. 
y. The Cacao industry in Jamaica has steadily 
extended of late years. The quantit}' of Cacao ex- 
ported has iscreased fourfold, but the value per 
cwt. has been almost stationary. In fact it has 
become a matter for serious consideration to the 
Government of Jamaica how it may be possible 
to rescue an otherwise promising industry from 
being crippled by the carelessneas of the small 
proprietors, (who at present grow the bulk of 
Jamaica Cacao) in exporting an inferior article. 
4. In an address given at the request of Sir 
Henry Blake at the late .Jamaica Exhibition on 
February 9, I drew particular attention to this 
subject and pointed out that owing to bad curing 
Jamaica Cacao was at the bottom of the list of 
Cacao in tlie London market, and the Island 
lost yearly on this account about t'20,000 to 
.f;-!0,000. Acting on my suggestion then given, the 
Government has lately taken steps to send in- 
telligent instructors round the Cacao growing 
districts to explain carefully to the settlers the way 
the Cacao should be cured, and the Legislative Council 
has voted a sum of t'liOO for this pursose. The result of 
thia experiment will be watched with some interest. 
5. As confirming the information placed before 
the Government of Jamaica it will be noticed that 
Messrs. Wilson, Smithett it Co. report that the 
bulk of .Tamaica Cacao "is of very ordinary quality ' 
the only West Indian Cacao taking rank below it, 
being St. Domingo from Joremie, " wliilst that from 
, Jjamana in the same Island is superior to Jamaica. 
