406 
SPICES 
CHAP. 
The rhizomes, on examination by Mr. Howard, showed 
dark areas containing the mycelium of a fungus with 
numerous chlamydospores, frequently arranged in 
chains, as occurs in Allantospora radicicola^ a sugar- 
cane disease in Java, to which this fungus appears to be 
allied. 
The disease is due to this fungus, which travels 
underground by means of rhizomorphs, or black mycelial 
strands. The rhizomes are filled with this mycelium, 
which collects in strands, and spreads to other roots 
through the ground. 
The ginger growers carefully dig out affected plants 
and those next to them, even if they look healthy, and 
destroy them. It is recommended to wash the rhizomes 
thoroughly in clean water, and steep them for half an 
hour in Bordeaux mixture before planting them. This 
treatment has proved very successful in the case of 
sugar-cane cuttings liable to the attack of a similar 
fungus. A cemented tank was made and partially 
filled with a rather weak solution of Bordeaux mixture, 
and into this the cuttings were thrown for some hours, 
after which they were planted. The same might be done 
with any underground stems liable to fungus attacks, 
such as ginger. 
Infected ground should be treated with lime, or a 
light dressing of sulphate of iron. 
This disease spreads rapidly, and if neglected a whole 
patch may be destroyed. 
Cork -rot . — This is another disease met with in 
Jamaica. Its origin appears to be unknown. The 
rhizomes when dug up are found to be corky in texture, 
and valueless. One planter stated that out of a crop 
estimated to yield fifty to sixty barrels of ginger, he 
only got five barrels of healthy rhizomes, the rest being 
spoiled by cork-rot. 
Dried ginger, like many other products, is liable to 
the attack of the drug-store beetle, Sitodrepa panicea. 
This is a very small and destructive insect, about ^ in. 
long, light brown in colour, and covered with a greyish 
