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cut, and the branches of any neighbouring trees should be 
treated with Bordeaux mixture to prevent any further in- 
fection by spores. 
ANOTHER FUNGUS PARASITE ON RUBBER. 
Mr. E. Betche, Botanical Assistant at the National 
Herbarium, New South Wales, reports that Dr. Funk of 
Apia communicated a rather interesting parasitic disease 
which causes the death of Cocoa and Rubber fiees. Hie 
fungus has been identified as Hymenochaete noxia Henning. 
(Supplement to Tropical Agriculturist, May 1909, p. oOl ). 
I have no other record of tins observation. However I 
have lately seen Para rubber roots attacked and killed by 
a species of H if menochaete which is probably this pestilen- 
tial thing. Hymenochaete is a very curious fungus, it has 
the appearance of a thin layer of bright brown velveteen on 
a tree or root, under ground it seems to hold to itself the 
soil, sand, etc., making a thick coat upon the root. It kills 
the roots slowly attacking large sized roots and causing 
them to dry up. 
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF 
GAMBIR. 
The question of improvement in the methods of manu- 
facture of Gaml) ir is one which has a great deal of impor- 
tance to the Leather trade in England, and attention has 
been called by the Director of the Imperial Institute to the 
improved factories of the Dutch in Indragiri, Sumatra. 
Gambir was formerly grown to a very large extent m Sing- 
apore, usually in combination with pepper The cultivation 
died out almost completely somewhat suddenly m 1894 or 
about that time and at present few Gambir fields re- 
main in Singapore. With the Gambir cultivation went 
also the pepper gardens. The area formerly under cul- 
tivation must have been the greater part of the island 
of Singapore, as is evinced .by the immense area ot 
wasted useless ground, absolutely deserted and covered 
with secondary scrub and lalang. The cause of the aban- 
donment of this cultivation was due partly to a fall m the 
price of pepper, but mainly from the so complete destruc- 
Ate 
