680 
DISEASES OF THE NUTMEG TREE. 
cut across by the deepening of the disease at the junction of the 
fruit with its stalk, similar to what we find in the leprous subject, 
whose toes drop off from the extension of the disease through all 
the tissues from the skin to the bones themselves. A few of the fruit 
go on to full maturity, opening with red mace and well formed 
nuts. The quantity of nuts does not seem to be affected by this 
disease, nor generally the healthy appearance of the leaves. Some 
trees are but slightly affected, the brown patch of the fruit to the 
naked eye having no fissures—-but the cuticle is always rough 
and wrinkled. The number so affected may be one per cent; the 
number affected in the severest type with this disease is not more 
on this plantation than one-fourth per cent. In Pinang, I under¬ 
stand the disease is very prevalent so as seriously to affect the crop. 
Of the measures taken to eradicate the disease , and their failure* 
Three years ago, on first noticing this disease and thinking it 
might owe its cause to the ordinary aphis, 'which often attacks the 
trees, I ordered one in particular, about ten years old, to be limed 
by washing the branches and stem with lime water; that fail¬ 
ed. 2nd. Thinking it might proceed from a cold stiff soil and 
defective nutriment, I had the ground well dug all round the tree, 
a drain made to carry off any water that might have lodged about 
the roots, while I manured deeply, and top dressed with cow 
dung and burnt earth; but that failed. The leaves put on a most 
healthy deep green hue, the fruit were abundant, but as they matured 
the disease showed itself as before. 3rd. Observing how the cu¬ 
ticle of the branches and stem was affected, I scrubbed and washed 
those parts with an infusion of the Tuba root in which was mixed 
certain quantities of sulphur and Bengal soap ; but that had no ef¬ 
fect. 4th. Having heard that the tree when so affected can be 
cured by cutting off all the branches and the stem close to the ground, 
I did so, watched the sprouting of the leaves, the growth of the 
branches, their blossoming, and the developement of the fruit, but 
to my sorrow, I found the disease there, in as full force as before. 
5th. Considering the disease as incurable, I cut down the tree, dug 
out the roots, and planted another in its place whose fruit is healthy. 
Conclusions . 
From experiment No 1 having failed, it is evident that this di¬ 
sease is not of the same kind which frequently attacks the leaves of 
the nutmeg plant, depending upon an insect which blackens and then 
destroys them. Nor does the disease depend upon the nature of the 
ground, as trees within a few feet are healthy and the fruit arrives 
at perfection.* The experiment No. 2 also shews that no trenching, 
digging, draining and manuring are of any effect, and from another 
* Another conclusion I would draw is that this disease is not conta¬ 
gious, as I have not noticed the trees adjacent to those affected, to be 
in the slightest degree touched. 
