58 
Sharpies and Lambourne . — Observations in 
regard to spread. This might be considered unusual in view of the general 
prevalence of ‘ Black Stripe 5 caused by Phytophthora faberi (Maubl.) on 
the rubber plantations of Malaya ; one can only assume that the general 
conditions in Malaya are somewhat inimical to the well-being of this fungus, 
an assumption which any experienced observer in Malaya would not 
countenance. 
During 1920 an urgent call was received from an estate in the chief 
Coco-nut centre in Malaya, asking for immediate advice regarding an 
outbreak of Bud-rot. A visit was made by the senior author, who found 
a three-acre field with practically every tree showing signs of Bud-rot,, 
some in a very advanced state of decay. This field was surrounded by 
fields containing trees of similar age, well grown, and with no signs of 
Bud-rot. The badly affected field was inundated twice a day by tidal 
water, and the trees were very backward in consequence. There was 
little doubt that the primary cause of the trouble in this case was the daily 
inundations. 
Isolation and Investigation of Diseased Tissues. 
A large number of specimens in all stages of decay were taken to the 
laboratory from the estate mentioned above, and isolations made from the 
advancing margin of the diseased tissue. As the central leaves were all 
destroyed it was not possible to search for the depressed rows of spots 
described by Shaw and Sundaraman (8) and later by Ashby ( 1 ). The 
specimens of bud-tissue used to obtain isolations from were put up in spirit 
and sectioned. 
One specimen (Plate I, Fig. 1) showed the rot extending below the 
bud to a depth of three to four inches. Isolations and sections were made 
from this material, and were substantially the same as the ordinary specimens 
(Plate I, Figs. 2 and 3). 
Examination of sections showed no obvious fungal hyphae in any of 
the specimens. The isolation resulted in three different organisms, one 
producing a deep-red pigment, the second a pale lemon-coloured growth in 
culture, and the third a pure-white growth. 
Preliminary examination suggested all three as bacterial cultures. 
They were finally sent to Dr. Fletcher, Bacteriologist to the Institute of 
Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, who reported as follows: ‘All are 
non-motile. The organism producing the red pigment is a minute Gram- 
positive bacillus ’ — this was taken at the commencement to be Bacillus 
prodigiosus. 
‘ The organism which gives the pale lemon-coloured growth is a small 
Gram-positive bacillus, possibly B. flavo-coriaceus (Eisenberg). 
‘ The white growth is a minute Gram-positive fungus.’ The senior 
author on careful examination would place this in Sarcinomyces. 
