4 THE ‘BROWN SCALE," 
he had only been in charge for a short time; but from a gentleman 
who accompanied me, I learned that in 1846 the pest was ravaging 
it to a frightful extent, and that a heavy loss of crop ensued. At. 
present the trees seem to be tolerably free of the “ Scale,” but on 
examination it was found still to exist, and a few black patches were 
here and there observable through the estate. 
On Weraloo-gastane, about six miles distant in a northerly direc- 
tion, the insect was first seen about two years ago; and its ravages 
have not yet been extensive. At present about one-fourth of the estate 
is affected, and beginning to turn black ; but Mr. Anstruther, to whom 
it belongs, says that he is checking its progress by sprinkling finely 
pounded saltpetre, mixed with lime-dust, over the trees. 
On the Dahanyke estate, about four miles further no h, towards 
Kotmalee, the Coccus first obtained a footing in May 1845, on a single 
tree near the Bungalow, which occupies an elevated, exposed situation. 
In 1846 it spread over about six acres, round the spot where it first 
appeared. In 1847, it disappeared to a considerable extent, but this 
season it has increased again, and is now fast extending over the 
estate. ue dde 
My first object on reaching Kotmalee was to visit the Harrangalla 
estate, as it was there that I first saw the effects of the injury in June 
1846. Tt had then only been observed about two months before, but 
had already diffused itself over a patch of about an acre, in a hollow 
part of the estate, sheltered from the monsoon. Since then it has gone 
on gradually progressing, and now prevails over more than two-thirds 
of the whole estate, while the effect produced on the trees is much 
worse than I have seen elsewhere. It was truly painful to find that 
trees which, in a healthy state, would produce from two to three pounds 
of coffee, were either entirely destitute of berries, or only producing 
. à few shrivelled ones, that will hardly repay the expense of collecting. 
I could not ascertain what the loss of crop had been during the last 
two years. - l ex diee 
On the adjoining estate of Oonoo-galla, which is a much younger 
one, the Coccus was first seen about the end of 1846, also in a hollow 
part of the estate. This season it is disseminated over about thirty acres. 
Katooboole and Kadien-lena, two very large estates in this district, 
are suffering at present to an alarming extent, and the damage will 
be very great. 
