37 9 
due to a fungus which enters the plant by the rootlets, gradually 
extending over the whole plant and eventually killing it. If such a 
root is split, the woody portion is seen to be of a dingy yellowish- 
brown colour, which becomes more marked if left open for a short 
time. When a plant has been attacked for about three weeks, the 
lower portion of the stem is usually covered with a delicate white 
bloom of mildew, but the disease can always be identified by a 
brownish ring just within the bark at the base of the stem or in the 
thicker portions of the root. 
Treatment. 
All diseased plants should be uprooted immediately the disease 
is noticed and should be burned. 
After removing the diseased plants add liberal dressings of quick- 
lime to the soil or sterilise it by heat. 
Use good strong sturdy plants at the commencement, avoiding 
weak spindly plants. Allow the plants plenty of light, air and room 
for growth. 
Black-stripe of Tomatoes. 
This disease is sometimes known as Black rot. The fruit is most 
frequently attacked, discoloured patches appearing, which become 
slightly sunken owing to collapse of the tissues. Such patches soon 
become covered with a delicate velvety pile of blackish-olive colour. 
The fungus sometimes forms long, blackish stripes on the stem, and 
irregular shaped blotches on the leaves. 
Preventative Measures. 
Infection can only take place through a wound. Minute cracks 
on the fruit expose the fruit to infection and are often the result of 
overfeeding more especially when green manure is used. Burn all 
infected fruits or plants ns soon as noticed. 
In many instances plants are practically destroyed by the attacks 
of Green Fly, Thrip, Red Spider and a White fly, the latter being 
perhaps the most destructive. They may be kept in check and often 
removed by repeatedly syringing with a weak solution of XL All 
Insecticide, the ultimate success depending largely on the thorough- 
ness of the operator. 
J. W. ANDERSON. 
DURATION OF VITALITY OF PARA RUBBER 
SEEDS. 
On the thirty-first of January, a box of 600 Para rubber seed was 
packed for a German planter to go to German New Guinea. The 
seeds were packed as usual in a tin box 12 inches long, 8 inches wide 
and 5 inches deep, in layers of burnt rice husk, and the box was 
covered with canvas stitched over it. The planter, however, omitted 
