Abstract

In a previous paper Thomas and Marudarajan (1938) discussed the importance of the fruit rot (mahali) of arecanuts in the Malabar and South Canara districts of the Madras Province and the steps that led to the initiation of field experiments. to assess the relative values of different spreaders and stickers then in vogue. The experiments conducted in. 1937-38 and recorded in that paper showed that plain Bordeaux mixture prepared by the addition of dilute copper sulphate solution to the milk of lime without using any adhesive was as effective in controlling the disease as Bordeaux mixture to which adhesives were added and that the use of resin as an adhesive to Bordeaux mixture made the mixture less effective than the others. These results were very important because they showed the possibilities for breaking an established practice of using resin Bordeaux mixture for mahali control which owing to its prolonged usage through three decades had acquired a wide popularity among the cultivators.

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