521 
on 1882 gave on May 5th 1909 a height of 81 feet and a girth of 7.5 
at one foot from the ground and 5.10 at 4 feet. From the tables 
given it appears that the trees put on a girth of from 2 to 3 inches 
annually, which though less than -comparatively young trees 
(as many of the Madras trees are) usually grow is by no means a 
poor growth. It is regrettable that for measurements of tree 
growth the measurement are not taken at the almost invariable 
height taken namely at 3 feet from the ground. This height 
is found to be the most convenient one, and a uniform standard 
should be adopted for purposes of comparison. The measurement 
of girth at one foot is valueless, as trees vary so much in 
dimensions at the base, and measurements to form a valuable 
table of growth should be taken on the same day of each year or as 
near to it as is practicable. Examining the tables given in the report 
however, one may gather that the growth of the trees in spite of the 
scantiness of rain and the long dry spell is quite good enough for 
practical purposes, though considerably slower than in a rainier 
country. 
Many of the trees are reported as being sufficiently developed for 
tapping and the rubber was reported on at the Imperial Institute as 
good but rather weak as the trees were young. So there is it seems 
a future for Para rubber cultivation in Madras. All the same the 
growth of Castilloa seems to be better than that of Para rubber, the 
trees running to a good size and making steady growth, and from 
latitude one would certainly expect this tree to do better, but Mr. 
Proundlock reports that it has fallen into disfavour with planters 
and there is no demand for it. . It is quite possible however, that 
Castilloa may play an important part in the agriculture of India at a 
later date.— Ed. 
THE BLACK HEVEA FUNGUS 
Another sample of the black fungus described in the July 
number of the Bulletin, page 310, has been received at the Botanic 
Gardens, Singapore, from Selangor. In this case the fungus had 
attacked stumps about 3 inches in girth. No less than 80 per cent, 
of the stumps were found to be killed by this pest. In this case the 
fructification of the fungus had appeared in abundance at a height 
of 2 feet and all down the tap root. This shows that the fungus does 
not confine itself to the upper branches of trees, but, apparently, it 
can attack almost any young part of the plant. Dangerous and 
troublesome as this pest is likely to prove to young plants in nur- 
series, it would be more so if it attacked adult trees or trees in bearing, 
not only on account of the greater loss, but also because it would be 
much more difficult to deal with. 
In any case this seems likely to prove as dangerous a plant as 
the Fomes, it not worse and its history and the best means of com- 
batting, it should at once be carefully investigated. — E d. 
