VIII 
PEPPERS 
279 
In a healthy full-grown vine the trunk of the standard is 
entirely hidden by a mass of foliage, which arises from a 
number of climbing stems which closely embrace the standard 
and secure themselves to it by numerous tufts of aerial lateral 
roots. When such a vine becomes diseased, the first symptom 
noticed is an appearance which was described as a “staring” 
look of the vine. This is due to the loss of rigidity in the 
leaves and leaf -stalks resulting in their drooping. With the 
collapse of the leaves the dense covering of foliage becomes 
diminished, and the stalks of the vine and patches of the trunk 
of the standard come into view. The next noticeable thing is 
that a portion of the climbing stems fall away from the 
standards as a result of the death of the roots and consequent 
relaxation of their grip. Soon the leaves begin to turn yellow 
and numbers of them are shed. Later all the vine withers, 
and the standard remains lightly festooned with dead relaxed 
stalks bearing a few dried leaves. While the upper part of the 
vine makes no attempt at recovery, the lower part often retains 
enough vitality to form new leaves or even to throw out fresh 
shoots, but these in their turn succumb, and I have known no 
case of recovery when once the leaf-dropping has commenced. 
A similar disease appeared in Cochin-China and 
J ava about the same time as in India. Professor 
Zimmermann and Dr. Van Breda de Haan wrote two 
articles on the disease, attributing it to eel-worms. Dr. 
De Haan considers that the eel-worms do not directly 
cause the death of the vines, but attributes that to 
bacteria, the entrance of which to the plant is caused 
by the attacks of the eel-worm. 
As Dr. De Haan and Mr. Barber point out, the 
pepper is less able to defend itself from injury by the 
eel- worm than many other plants, as it is largely a 
surface-feeder, and the roots tend to collect in the 
mound on which it is grown. Once the worm has 
established itself, it meets with ideal conditions for its 
multiplication. The worms have only a short way to 
travel to meet with fresh roots. 
The diseases which broke out in the Malabar pepper 
estates are very interesting. They seem to show that 
the plants were deficient in vitality or power to resist 
disease. It must be remembered that pepper is nearly 
