65 
Malaya on Bud-rot of Coco-nuts. 
from which the central shoots had fallen out were cut down and examined : 
these were No. i in Group D , and No. 6 in the controls for Group A. 
The first showed a mixed crowd of putrefying organisms on the top of the 
bud-tissues and investing this - externally for ij in. all round, the pink 
colour, probably due to themed-pigmented bacillus, predominating. When 
the heart-tissue was cut open there was no penetration to be observed : the 
cabbage appeared quite sound internally. The second tree (Group A 
control) showed the bud invested similarly, but, on cutting open the heart- 
tissue, penetration to a depth of 2 in. internally was found. This was 
undoubtedly Bud-rot. 
The observations made on these two trees led to the conclusion that 
in most cases where the central leaves were badly diseased, a rotting of the 
bud would follow, and, as comparatively few of the controls showed a bad 
attack, the writers felt justified in assuming at the time that the introduced 
organisms, placed directly in the bud, were capable of causing, in the field, 
a typical Bud-rot on mature trees. 
The attacked trees were left to develop, but, as time passed, it became 
obvious that events were pursuing a course contrary to that anticipated. 
This was most obvious in Group B ; four of these had their central shoot 
pulled out quite easily, the others were left untouched. On 8.3.21, however, 
all had recovered. 
The general method of recovery is distinctly peculiar. Plate VII, 
Fig. 1, shows the type. The central shoot has disappeared, but from the 
side of the bud below the remains of the central shoot a lateral shoot is 
pushed out. The leaves comprising this lateral shoot are strangely aborted, 
the leaflets being very stiff and only partially developed. Growth of this 
lateral shoot continues, and it takes the place of the central shoot. The 
leaves open out and present the appearance shown in Plate VII, Fig. 2, 
which is a photograph of tree No. 1 in Group C. 
This tree was cut out on 7.3.21, and a close examination of the central 
leaves and bud-tissue made. Another central shoot was coming up, and 
on examination this showed the same aborted leaves inside the central 
sheath. The bud was healthy, as were the lower 18 in. of the new central 
shoot. Above the lower 18 in., for 12 in. or so, undoubted evidence of 
a diseased condition was observed — a black, slimy bacterial appearance 
being quite marked. A photograph of this peculiar state of affairs was 
a failure. Another tree was cut out which showed just the same 
condition. 
On 7.3.21 tree No. 2 of the Phytophthora faberi group was cut out 
for examination. Before cutting, this tree had only the external leaves 
standing (Plate VII, Fig. 3), the bud-tissue being absolutely rotted (Plate 
VII, Fig. 4). This has been the only definite case of Bud-rot noted 
throughout all our inoculations. 
G 
