CACAO CULTURE IN THE PHILIPPINES. part 7

Cocoa tree rehabilitation in Ecuador

ENEMIES AND DISEASES.

Monkeys, rats, and parrots are here and in all tropical countries the

subject of much complaint, and if the plantation is remote from towns or

in the forest, their depredations can only be held in check by the constant

presence of well-armed hunter or watchman. Of the more serious enemies

with which we have to deal, pernicious insects and in particular

those that attack the wood of the tree, everything has yet to be learned.

Mr. Charles N. Banks, an accomplished entomologist, now stationed at

Maao, Occidental Negros, is making a close study of the life history of

the insect enemies of cacao, and through his researches it is hoped that

much light will be thrown upon the whole subject and that ways will be

devised to overcome and prevent the depredations of these insect pests.

The most formidable insect that has so far been encountered is a beetle,

which pierces and deposits its eggs within the bark. When the worm

hatches, it enters the wood and traverses it longitudinally until it is ready

to assume the mature or beetle state, when it comes to the surface and

makes its escape. These worms will frequently riddle an entire branch

and even enter the trunk. The apertures that the beetle makes for the

laying of its eggs are so small -more minute than the head of a pin-

that discovery and probing for the worm with a fine wire is not as fruitful

of results as has been claimed.

Of one thing, however, we are positively assured, i. e., that the epoch of

ripening of the cacao fruit is the time when its powerful fragrance serves

to attract the greatest number of these beetles and many other noxious

insects to the grove. This, too, is the time when the most constant and

abundant supply of labor is on the plantation and when vast numbers of

these insects can be caught and destroyed. The building of small fires

'at night in the groves, as commonly practiced here and in many tropical

countries, is attended with some benefits. Lately, in India, this remedy

has been subject to an improvement that gives promise of results which

will in time minimize the ravages of insect pests. It is in placing powerful

acetylene lights over broad, shallow vats of water overlaid with min eral oil or petroleum.

Some of these lamps now made under recent patents yield a light of dazzling brilliancy, and if well distributed would doubtless lure millions of insects to their death.

The cheap cost of the fuel also makes the remedy available for trial by every planter.

There is a small hemipterous insect which stings the fruit when about

two-thirds grown, and deposits its eggs within. For this class of insects

M. A. Tonduz, who has issued publications on the diseases of cacao in

Venezuela, recommends washing the fruit with salt water, and against

the attacks of beetles in general by painting the tree stem and branches

with Bordeaux mixture, or with the vassiliere insecticide, of which the

basis is a combination of whale-oil soap and petroleum suspended in lime

wash. There can be no possible virtue in the former, except as a preventive

against possible fungous diseases; of the sanitive value of the

latter we can also afford to be skeptical, as the mechanical sealing of the

borer's holes, and thereby cutting off the air supply, would only result

in driving the worm sooner to the surface. The odor of petroleum and

particularly of whale-oil soap is so repellant, however, to most insects that

its prophylactic virtues would undoubtedly be great.

The Philippine Islands appear to be so far singulax'ly exempt from the

very many cryptogamic or fungous diseases, blights, mildews, rusts, and

cankers that have played havoc with cacao-growing in many countries.

That we should enjoy continued immunity will depend greatly upon securing

seeds or young plants only from noninfested districts or from

reputable dealers, who will carefully disinfect any shipments, and to supplement

this by a close microscopical examination upon arrival and the

immediate burning of any suspected shipments.

Another general precaution that will be taken by every planter who

aims to maintain the best condition in his orchard is the gathering and

burning of all prunings or trimmings from the orchard, whether they are

diseased or not. Decaying wood of any kind is a field for special activity

for insect life and fungous growth, and the sooner it is destroyed the

better.

On this account it is customary in some countries to remove the fruit

pods from the field. But unless diseased, or unless they are to be returned

after the harvest, they should be buried upon the land for their

manurial value.





The picture above was taken in Ghana, where fortunately, beans may sometimes be extracted from pods showing disease sypmtoms on the outside - unlike Moniliophthora diseased pods
(see below).

Source: S.LYON,IN CHARGE OF SEED AND PLANT INTRODUCTION. OF PUBLIC PRINTING 1902.WILLIAM S. LYON