82 
excavated soil into the diseased portion, and not outside it. This 
method, which was first suggested by Hartig, for the purpose of 
preventing the spread of subterranean fungi in the german forests, 
cannot be too strongly commended, especially where the diseased 
patches are small in area. The amount of success depends entirely 
on the thoroughness, combined with an intelligent me’ hod of 
carrying out the work. Half attempts invariably result in a loss 
of capital without benefit. It may be enough to suggest that the 
disease may be spread by the spores of the fungus, or infected 
soil being carried by the shoes of labourers, by dirty tools, wheels 
of carts, animals, &c. from diseased centres. Diseased and fallen 
trees, and especially stumps and roots, should be at once destroyed 
by burning. The soil surrounding diseased stumps should be 
burned after the stumps have been removed, so as to destroy the 
smaller diseased portions of the root that remained behind. 
A second preventive method, which has proved of service in 
France, is to lay bare the trunk as far below the surface of the soil 
as can be done without injury to the tree, and to densely coat the 
exposed trunk and adjoining soil with powdered sulphur. This 
should be repeated, when the channel round the trunk becomes 
filled up with earth. If, as stated by Mr, Wight, the New Zealand 
fungus first attacks the trunk just below the surface of the soil, 
this method should prove beneficial if preserved with. 
Stagnant water should not be allowed to remain in the soil, as 
this favours the spread of the fungus. 
Finally, in those cases where the fungus has completely devas- 
tated large areas, it is probable that such will be deserted as un- 
profitable the trees being allowed to lie and rot, and the fungus to 
spread in the soil. This is disastrous, being in fact a nursery for 
the development and diffusion of the enemy. 
It is not the object of this note to suggest wiiose business it is to 
prevent such shortsightedness, but to impress emphatically that 
such a condition of things should not be tolerated. 
Geo. MASSES. 
NOTES. 
Rubber Planting in Penang. 
When such a usually conservative people as Chinese squatters 
voluntarily take up the planting <T Para Rubber, it shows how deep- 
ly the idea that the cultivation of Para Rubber will give a hand- 
some return, has taken root. As an alternative to planting sp:ces 
the Chinese in Balik Pulau, Penang, under the fostering care of 
their District Office, Mr. Hereford, are planting Para Rubber; a 
few thousand seeds having been supplied them for the purpose. 
Should these trees eventually yield latex as freely as the one in the 
Botanic Gardens there, the Chinese will have no cause to regret 
their substitution of nutmeg for Rubber cultivation, 
