again like that of the Bombay cane, but it gives much juice and has hitherto shown a considerable immunity from disease. The pálabontha is a soft cane which is sold for chewing. The válu is like the 'country' cane, but a little thinner; and the juice is a little more watery and requires longer boiling. The mogili, 'country' and pálabontha canes grow only about six or seven feet high. The rest run up to nine feet.
About the end of the last century an obscure disease decimated the sugar-cane in the district. In March 1900 Government introduced cuttings from Hospet in Bellary, where disease was rare, but this did little good. The Government Botanist, Mr. C. A. Barber, was accordingly deputed to make a thorough investigation of the crops and the disease, and his report, dated 24th April 1901, threw much light on the subject and suggested the starting of a Government agricultural station at which the matter might be further studied. The station was opened in 1902 at Samalkot. It has been recently decided that it shall be a permanent institution.
The diseases of the sugar-cane in the district are described in Mr. Barber's first report. The moth borer, the ravages of which do such an infinity of harm in the West Indies and no small damage in Ganjám, is responsible for very little of the evil; perhaps owing to the scattered cultivation of the cane, or the system of tying the leaves round the stem, or the existence of its antagonist the Isaria Barberi fungus. The 'small borer,' or scolytid beetle, and the 'red smut,' or Collctotrichum falcatum fungus, are the greatest enemies of the Gódávari canes. These two pests go hand in hand and it cannot as yet be said which prepares the cane for the ravages of the other. The fungus manifests itself inside the cane in 'well marked blotches with a characteristic white centre.' It can attach itself to any abrasion on the surface of the cane, even to the scar left by a fallen leaf, and thence makes its entry into the tissues of the plant. It is very slow in its progress. The conidia of the fungus are found at the base of the black tufts of hair in the holes left by old dead roots, and as an incrustation on the surface of the dead and dried up canes below the origin of the leaf. If a cane infested with the 'small borer' is opened, the surface is found to be covered with a mass of small dark beetles about one-twelfth of an inch in length, which are seen busily emerging from and re-entering their small burrows. A strong vinous odour of fermented juice fills the air, and the infested canes are entirely useless for sugar. The evil acts very quickly. In the West Indian islands whole fields have been completely destroyed by it.
