458 
described and the conclusions are based on the results of numerous 
experiments ; it is, therefore, of the greatest importance not only be- 
cause it throws so much light on the cacao diseases of the West 
Indies, but because it concerns all cacao-producing countries of the 
world. 
Keith Bancroft, 
Assistant Mycologist, 
to the 
Federated Malay Slates. 
PROGRESS IN UGANDA. 
The report of the Botanical Forestry and Scientific Department 
of Uganda for the year ending March 31, 1909, is published as an 
annual report, and shows a good deal of energy has been expended 
and good work done. The staff of Europeans is a large one, contrast- 
ing very favourably with that of many of the colonies of the Empire. 
Besides Mr. Da we, the Director, there is one assistant, one Inspector 
and five assistants to deal with cotton, and one entomologist, be- 
sides several overseers of outlying experimental stations. A big 
exhibition of many thousand exhibits was held at Kampala which 
seems to have been a success. 
All kinds of useful plants are being cultivated by the department, 
though cotton is the most important from all points of view. Para 
rubber is being grown with success and though most of the trees are 
young tapping experiments were made. The yields, however, seem 
small, and tapping can apparently be carried on for 8 months only, 
commencing in the wet season. The growth of the trees, however, is 
not below the average, the oldest tree, 7 l / 2 years old, measures 42^ 
feet in height and 30 inches in girth. It increased in height 5 feet 9^4 
inches, and in girth 5 V 2 inches in the year. 
Castilloa is attacked by a borer, and does not promise so well. 
Cocoa is being taken up by settlers, Coffee crops well and 
heavily, but a new leaf disease, Colletotrickum Coffeoe, destroyed one 
plantation. Its attacks, however, were defeated by Bordeaux mixture. 
Wheat and rice and lemon-grass are successfully worked. Much 
attention is paid to the cotton industry and the outturn of ginned 
cotton has risen from 858 cwts. in 1905-6 to 14,087 in 1908-9. There 
is much too little cotton ground in the Empire for the need of the 
country so that it is of the greatest importance that areas in which 
cotton can be successfully grown should be developed to their utmost. 
It is well suited too to the native population, and is quite the thing 
for a country with a large native population, and considering the large 
and increasing area under rubber at the present time is of more 
importance to the Empire than that popular plant. — E d. 
