66 
Sharpies and Lamb ourne.— Observations in 
Conclusions drawn from Work recorded above. 
It can be taken as definitely established : 
1. That if the nutritive bud-tissue of Coco-nuts is a suitable pabulum 
for any saprophytic organism, either bacterium or fungus, this will develop 
and cause symptoms usually associated with Bud-rot if inoculated directly 
into the bud-tissues. 
2. Owing to a very definite resistance exercised by the bud-tissues 
of mature trees against infection, such organisms in the absence of suitable 
conditions will not develop beyond a certain stage, marked by the death 
of the central shoot. If the central shoot dies, and the bud is invested 
externally with the invading organism, the bud-tissues have the power of 
pushing out a lateral, by means of which growth is continued to take the 
place of the diseased central shoot. 
Bearing of above on previous Bud-rot investigations. 
The above conclusions exercise considerable influence on previous 
recorded work. The prevailing idea that growth is no longer possible if 
the central shoot is killed must now be considered a fallacy, though it must 
be admitted that healthy growth is not immediate even if lateral shoots are 
produced. There is no doubt, however, that the trees producing the aborted 
central shoots do finally recover and put out healthy ones. 
The proved resistance of mature trees negatives conclusions based on 
seedling inoculations, more especially when these inoculations have been 
aided by artificial humidity conditions as in damp chambers. Short-time 
observations in recording results of inoculation experiments on mature 
trees must also, in the light of our experiments, be of minor importance 
when the question of experimental proof of Bud-rot is considered. 
Whilst concerned primarily with Reinking’s work (7), it will be 
advisable to consider the work of other authors in view of the recorded 
facts. Coleman (3), in his work on the Areca Palm, showed his Phytophthora 
omnivor a var. Arecae to be primarily concerned in causing a nut disease, 
but he records one inoculation made in the top of the tree with a suspension 
of zoospores, which, two weeks after inoculation, showed the fungus grown 
through the underlying leaf-sheaths and attacking the growing-point. He 
concludes from this that a direct infection of the tree-top (presumably bud- 
tissue) by means of zoospores is possible, a perfectly admissible conclusion 
even from one observation only. 
Butler (2), in his work on Palmyra Palm Bud-rot, got undoubted 
parasitic penetration of the leaf sheaths with Pythium (. Phytophthora ) 
palmivorum (Butler), but twenty-eight days was the longest time allowed 
between inoculation and examination. No rotting of the bud was observed 
in any single case. 
Johnstone (4) in his work, records his inoculations, and worked more 
