53 
In all probability the disease is worst on closely planted estates, 
where, necessarily, the bark renewal of tapped surfaces is poor since 
the increase in girth is slow. 
■On estates where the spacing of the trees is adequate to allow 
for good growth and rapid renewal it is possible that the trees are 
able to throw off the disease. 
If the rainfall is unusually excessive the spacing factor would 
obviously not have tlie same significance. 
Although pruning is not recommended at all in the ordinary 
course of events as I consider it necessary to provide all possible leaf 
area and not to deprive the tree of any branch if it can be avoided, 
it may be necessary to prune in order to increase the distance 
between soil and foliage to allow for access of light and air w r here 
there are serious outbreaks of the fungus. 
Water lying about on tbe surface soil would increase the 
moisture content of the atmosphere about tbe level of the tapping 
surface, preventing rapid drying and increasing the chances of 
infection. Should such a condition exist remedial measures should 
be adopted without delay. 
It is not easy to give any definite reliable information on the 
treatment of tlie disease at the present time for the reason, as I have 
stated above, that sufficient time lias not passed to allow one to draw 
any sound conclusions. 
When trees are badly affected it would seem that superficial 
treatment with disinfectants would not check the disease as it could 
readily spread in the wood behind the cortex and bark could be 
re-infected at a lower or higher level. It would, therefore, be 
necessary to cut out tbe affected bark and possibly the superficial 
layers of wood — in any case all dead bark should be removed. 
The tapped surface of slightly affected trees may be painted 
with a 50 per cent, solution of Jodelite (half Jodelite, half water) 
or even a stronger solution or a 20 per cent, solution of brunolmum 
twice a week for three weeks. 
It may be necessary later on to cut out the diseased bark but 
such drastic measures should not be taken unless the other method 
fails, as the resulting wound is a serious matter. 
Iu all cases tapping should cease on affected trees. I have not 
seen any evidence to prove that the disease is carried by the tapping 
knife but it is quite possible that that may happen. To be on the 
safe side it may perhaps be advisable to sterilize the tapping knives 
and for this purpose to use a 5 per cent, solution of formalin which 
should be carried by tbe tappers in receptacles of some kind large 
enough to hold the knife. After each tree is tapped the knife 
should be. placed in tlie formalin solution. 
