406 Howard. — On some Diseases of the 
4. Prophylaxis. 
In Java, Wakker (10, 14) described and figured a fungus 
Marasmius Saccharic n. sp., which destroys cane-cuttings in 
the ‘hatching beds’ (Treibbeeten), in which the canes are 
placed before planting out, and also attacks and destroys 
mature canes. From his description of the fungus, which he 
regarded as a wound parasite, and his culture and infection 
experiments, there can be no doubt that the West Indian and 
Java forms are identical. 
The conditions of cane culture in Java, however, differ 
markedly from those in the West Indies. In Java, cuttings 
are raised in special plantations on the hills, from which the 
cane-fields in the lowlands are planted. Great care is taken 
in the selection of cuttings and their protection during 
growth. Further, only one crop of canes is raised from the 
same stand, so that there are no rattoons. The fungus in 
Java, therefore, has less opportunity of causing a widespread 
root disease than is the case in some parts of the West Indies. 
It is clear from the wholesale destruction of the young 
roots of canes attacked by this disease that there is no hope 
of a cure. Prevention and the assisting of the host plant as 
much as possible can therefore alone be aimed at. 
The selection of cuttings from healthy canes and their 
protection during germination, instead of the present system, 
are essential. 
Probably if the fields selected for rattooning were allowed 
to remain as late as possible before reaping, there would be 
less chance of the fungus, if present, overcoming the young 
shoots. Cultivation of the soil round the old stumps, as the 
first rains appear, ought to assist new root development. 
Artificial irrigation during the earlier period of growth and 
during drought should assist the canes to ward off the fungus. 
In Surinam, an ingenious method of starving out the 
fungus in badly infected fields has been adopted with success 
by the late Mr. James Mayor. After reaping and digging up 
and destroying the old stumps, the field is placed underwater 
