we have perfected a system of treat- 
ment and proven its efficiency. We 
can then recommend to the Govern- 
ment suitable measures for the supres- 
sion of the disease. 
We must not hope to ever entirely 
exterminate the coconut heart rot dis- 
ease iu Cuba. But we may hope to 
suppress and control it, so as to greatly 
increase the importance of the coco- 
nut industry, and put in on a basis of 
security. 
Plans for less immediate work on 
the coconut bud rot must look far to 
the future; in fact, must include the 
development of other agricultural re- 
sources. Much of Baracoa region is 
now practically inaccessible. A few 
good roads would remedy this. 
The coconut will be more profitably 
grown in combination with other crops 
which will vary according to the condi- 
tions. It is not probable that culti- 
vation will be of any help in avoiding 
the bud rot. In actual farm practice 
the most practical method for combat- 
ing plant disease is through resistant 
varieties. 
This line of work should be taken 
up for the coconut bud rot. All the 
known varieties of coconuts in the 
world should be imported (under pro- 
per precautions) and given a good 
chance in the affected districts. 
The studies which we have been 
able to make in the past two years 
have not yet enabled us to determine 
the cause of the rot. We have not 
abandoned this side of the work, but 
if we can prove that the remedy so 
universally recommended (that is: 
fire), is certainly effective under the 
most difficult conditions, we will have 
shown how the industry can be saved. 
Wm. T. Horne, 
Plant Pathologist. 
