66 
Estate Management. 
230. For some years past an extremely peculiar disease lias intro- 
duced itself in the Musa plantations: this has become particularly dan- 
gerous owing to its having proved so infective that if one shaft is attack- 
ed the whole plantation follows suit and perishes. Unfortunately one 
has not yet found any remedy for this “Worm” disease as the Colon- 
ists call it. 
231. \\ lien the tree is attacked its outward appearance imiuedniely 
shows li and the whole plantation has to oe cut uown to prevent the 
lurther spread to others. The disease itseil starts from the innermost 
vascular handles which take on a browmsn colour intermixed with a 
number of black spots. This decomposition of the sap soon extends 
to the whole shaft. The growth of the plant as well as that of the 
fruit is arrested and a resinous exudation renders the latter absolutely 
uneatable, xi the same piece of land is going to be replanted, suckers 
Horn a healthy plant must be used, because experience lias taught that 
even the suckers contain the diseased material of the mother-plant. 
Unfortunately my stay was too short to make myself absolutely certain 
of the real cause : in my opinion the whole phenomenon comes about 
through a parasitic mould, which has its origin in the altered chemical 
relations of the soil consequent on the existing state of cultivation. Ten 
years ago the pest was completely unknown, but at the present time 
has gained such strides that it becomes the serious duty of the proprie- 
tors to have enquiry made info its origin on scientific lines. 
232. As the owners of the larger estates reside (for the most part in 
England, their control is almost always placed in the hands of a Man- 
ager who has to direct the whole cultivation as well as transact all 
outside and inside business. Associated with him are the Over- 
seers who are employed in greater or less number according to the size 
of the property, and fairly correspond with our German Verwalter for 
they are generally young men who want to learn the thorough ground- 
work of Estate Cultivation and Management. Next to these are the 
Headsmen (Drivers) chosen from the most diligent labourer’s, under 
w hose direct supervision the out door and in-door work is carried c-n. 
An estate often has from six to eight such Drivers. Owing to the well- 
known indolence of the negro the field-work is let out by piecework: 
those employed in the boiling houses and farm buildings receive a daily 
wage because they are not engaged there permanently until they can 
prove their ability after long experience. Every labourer who works 
upon an estate receives free quarters, free medical treatment and med- 
icine, and, according to the number of his family a fixed piece of land 
for cultivating what is required by his own household, or else a fixed 
quantity of plantains weekly. If the plantation is at all extensive, the 
proprietor is bound to keep, at his orvn expense, a school-teacher for 
tlie labourer’s children. If cn the other hand the properties are 
small, a joint teacher is usually engaged by three or four neighbouring 
ones, just as several estates have a common preacher and a common 
church. Briefly put, the above is probably what was most worth know- 
ing among the things I noted during my stay on the Zeelandia Sugar 
Estate. 
