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South, the Agricultural Inspector, Federated Malay States, in 
December, 1915, published a paper on the “Distribution and Field 
Treatment of Pink Disease” in the Agricultural Bulletin. In this 
paper we are told that the disease was then known to exist on 154 
estates (of over 100 acres in extent) in Perak, Negri Sembilan, 
Selangor, Pahang and Johore. I can add that the disease is not 
unknown in Province Wellesley and Kedah. It is true that there 
are certain limited areas where the disease is much more common 
than in other parts of the country but since 1913 it has become much 
more widely spread. 
It is sometimes observed that when the main stem or large 
branches are attacked the fungus apparently dies during a spell of 
dry weather and the affected bark cracks and dries up and a lip or 
callus forms on the healthy bark at the margin of the wound. In 
some cases the disease is thrown off in this way but more often it 
begins to develop again as more suitable conditions, rainy weather, 
arise. The disease first appears sporadically, that is, isolated affected 
trees are found here and there in the planted areas but unless 
checked it soon begins to spread. 
Various methods of treatment have been tried and among these 
I have found only one which I consider successful. Spraying with 
fungicides need not be discussed at all as it is quite impracticable as 
a method of treatment of affected trees. If it were considered that 
the disease might cause a serious epidemic then spraying might have 
to be undertaken as a preventive measure. 
Brooks and Sharpies considered that the best method of treat- 
ment was the application of tar to the affected parts of the bark. 
South in an article to which I have already referred (published 
December, 1915) stated “ The year’s additional experience has, 
however, shown all the officers of the Agricultural Department 
connected with this work that the treatment originally recommended 
by the Mycologists is not sufficiently vigorous and drastic. More 
cutting and less tarring is generally advisable, while the pest gang 
should be large enough to make one complete round each fortnight 
or at the very longest every three weeks.*” Mr. South may have 
changed his opinion since then but the conclusions which he arrived 
at at this date do not appeal to me at all. 1 think the better 
treatment is the covering of affected parts of branches with a 
mixture of tar and crude. oil (80 per cent, tar to 20 per cent. oil). 
The whole circumference of the bark well above and well 
below the area affected should be covered with this mixture. If 
the disease is found in its early stages the application of the 
mixture checks its progress and actually in practice no further 
treatment is necessary in a very large percentage of cases. Should 
the treatment not be successful the branch may be cut off but only 
after treatment. 
