6 
EUTYPA AS A PARASITE. 
Aii account of Eutypa caulivora on Para rubber trees was 
published in the Bulletin' some time back, and Mr. Massee’s sugges- 
tion that it was a true parasite though it did not appear on the tree 
till after its death was also mentioned. The trees on which the fun- 
gus appeared had, however, either been blown over or had died frorn 
some other cause and till after death had not shown any signs of 
fungus, of any kind. Hence I held that this species of Eutypa was 
probably not parasitic but saprophytic only. A few months ago, 
however, I found a young Para rubber tree dying from the top down- 
wards which had produced a black fungus on its top, resembling 
Eutypa, and obviously not the well-known dieback fungs Diplodia. 
The tree was at no great distance from a big tree which had previously 
died and on which Eutypa had later developed and a portion of it 
sent to the Royal Gardens, Kew, was examined there and the report 
given that “ the black growth on the Para rubber stem was the 
Stroma or young stage of some Eutypa-like funges which has not yet 
produced fruit, hence cannot be determined.’' It is probably then 
that this fungus was Eutypa caulivora, the only species seen near tie 
spot and that it is truly parasitic, attacking the topshoot of the tree 
and growing downwards like Diplodia. The other trees however on 
which Eutypa caulivora appeared showed no signs of being killed y 
this fungus, as previously described. I have seen no other cases or 
death from this fungus, and it does not seem common. As too it 
seems to be very slow in fruiting, and to show its presence cons- 
picuously in young plants before it is ready to fruit it should be very 
easily dealt with. 
The only other tree I have seen it on is Macaranga Griffithiana, 
a tree of swampy open country which is abundant in the neighbour- 
hood of the trees affected, and it is probable that this plant somewhat 
allied to Hevea is the original host of the Eutypa. Further investi- 
gations of this group of Fungi is however required. Ed. 
PINK DISEASE PREVENTION EXPERIMENTS. 
The most interesting matter in this district is the progress of the 
experiments which are being conducted at Palapilly and Vellanikana 
estates in the prevention of Pink Disease ( Corticium Javanicum ) on 
Para Rubber, a disease which has done a considerable amount of 
damage. It will be remembered that these experiments aim at pre- 
vention rather than cure, and the trees were painted in the dry season 
with Bordeaux mixture so that the spores of the fungus, which are 
wind-carried at that time and find a lodgement on the trees, especially 
in the forks, should germinate with the beginning of the monsoon 
rains in a medium of Bordeaux mixture which will kill them before 
