338 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 



[October i 1882. 



dismissed, unless as an accomplice after the fact." I 

 say tliat the case a{<ainst the fungus is a true bill. 

 Every effect must have had a cause, but, if we be- 

 lieved " W."'s reasoning, we would scout at the doctor 

 who said that his patient died of smallpox or cholera 

 and insist that the doctor did not know what his 

 patient died of, unless he could explain the subtle 

 cause which enabled the germs of disease to fasten 

 on the victim. 



The subtle cause of leaf-disease, or rather the develop- 

 ment of leaf-disease, did, per se, no harm to our 

 coffee, and liad there not been a fungus to take advant- 

 age of the favoring conditions, these conditions might 

 hare passed away harmlessly. We therefore regard 

 leaf-disease as the visible and direct reason why our 

 coffee drops its leaves. That the cotfee bush annually 

 has to yield such an enormous leaf crop is quite 

 sutficieut to account for the deficiency in its fruit 

 crop. 



Apart from the practically fallacious reasoning about 

 prime causes, I think •'W."'s attempt to show that 

 there has been no sympathy between the attacks of the 

 disease and short crops fails. " W.' seems to found hsi 

 doctrine on the supposed fact that leafdiseiise didbtttle 

 or no damage prior to 1871. My own opinion is that 

 it was present and gradually sapping the health of 

 our trees before it was noticed. Such an unlooked-for 

 thing might go on for years without causing any re- 

 mark other than that the "oofiee looked a bit yellow 

 from crop" or a "bit bare after the monsoon." 



Gradually, step by step, did the "fungus develope"; 

 it was noticed, talked about, considered a trifle, then 

 rather serious, then very serious, and now, when 

 nearly half the country is brought to a yield, for this 

 year, of one bushel per acre, people might be excused 

 for calling it fatal. That an estate for one or two 

 years gave a good crop after a bad attack of disease 

 in no way exculpates the disease. No cinchona, for a 

 year or so, crops so well as one that is half-cankered. 

 Can "W." name any estate in full bear)iig that gave 

 even two consecutive crops after 1871 equal to any 

 two consecutive crops gathered, say prior to 

 1869? 



But better still; if "W." will take a dozen estates 

 and add together their 5 years' crops from 1865 to 

 1870, and then add their 5 years' crops from 1870 to 

 1875, the figures will show him that there is an un- 

 mistakable correlation between the full appearance of 

 leaf-disease and diminish', d :'--V- of crop. 



Soil and climate that allowed coffee to be cultivated 

 remuneratively, so long as leaf-disease did not inter- 

 fere, do 80 no longer, and it is only under exception- 

 ably favourable conditions that coffee in Ceylon can 

 be said to pay in spite of leaf-disease. — Yours faith- 

 fully, FATAL FUNGUS. 



[Our correspondent " Fatal Fungus" must remember 

 that we have already expressed opinions, in discuss- 

 ing "W."'s first letter, from which we see no reason 

 to swerve. We quite recognize the aggravation of 

 our misfortunes by abnormal seasons, but the great 

 enemy of our coffee and prosperity has been the fun- 

 gus which was first noticed in Madulsima in May 

 1869 and rapidly spread with enfeebling, if not fatal, 

 effect over the whole coffee cultivation of the island. 

 We believe our present correspondent to be mistaken, 

 however, in supposing that this specific fungus was 

 present and that to it was due the yellowing of 

 coffee leaves, previously to 1869. That the denud- 

 ation of forest in our mountain regions has not af- 

 fected climate, we have consistently held for forty 

 years ; but we think that undoubtedly the large un- 

 broken expanses of coffee which took the place of 

 the forest favoured the sprea<l of the fungus and 

 hi-ve contributed to its long continuance,— Ed. J 



QUEENSLAND AS A NEW FIELD. 



Dear Sir, — I enclose a letter, or rather a "chit," 

 from one who gave up his connection with the 

 planting interest here a short time ago and went 

 to try his fortune in the Australian colonies. I 

 think the letter, though short, speaks volumes in 

 favour of that grand country, Queensland, and you 

 and your readers may find it of some interest on 

 that account. The writer, who, I feel sure, would be 

 the last to misrepresent things, says " it is s, fine 

 country," and "the one to make money in" ; he feels 

 very "fit indeed and likes the place much." What 

 more, barring further particulars, could one wish as 

 a recommendation for the adoption of a new country ? 

 Now, in these times, it is useless to hope that our 

 present Government will assist the planters thrown 

 out of situations to reach new fields, where their ex- 

 perience and energy would find better scope. But 

 what about that go-ahead colony Queensland? Were 

 she to charter a steamer for the transport of planters 

 out of their billets through no fault of theirs, well versed 

 and experienced iu tropical agriculture, I am bound to 

 say that it would turn out, in the end, one of her best 

 investments. Over the way they are admittedly 

 far behind us in many branches. Why, sir, a 

 detachment of our planting community, armed with 

 the Tropical Agriculturist, would he a mine of wealth 

 in developing the resources of the colony. The paltry 

 j6'2,000 or so thus expended would he but a drop in 

 the bucket as compared with the advantages to be gained, 

 Queensland must be blind if she dots not see it and 

 take the hint. Wh. 



(Letter re/erred to.)- 

 Le Rowai, Mackay, Queensland, 2nd July 1882. 



My Dear Wh. — You will see that I have at last settled 

 down here. It is a tine country, and the place to make money 

 in. I feel very" fit" indeed, and like the place much. When I get 

 more settled I will write you a "yarn," as there are some things 

 I shall want you to send me. How is dear old Kandy getting 

 on ? I suppose much the same as usual ? I hear that the crop 

 prospects are as bad as ever, and it grieves me greatly to think 

 that mauy good men may be " burst up" over this crop. With 

 my kindest regards to you and all old friends in haste, I 

 remain, yours sincerely, P. A. R. 



P.S. — Mr. Cran, who is writing to you, is a friend and neighboiu- 

 of miue and would like to have some of your things. Please 

 give him full particulars, aud do them for him as reasonably as 

 you would for me. Cran is from Aberdeen, are you from Aber- 

 deen awa '? 



(Yes. In what inhabited corner of the globe is the granite 

 city not represented? I — W.) 



[The Queensland Government, like those of all the 

 other colonies, is anxious lo increase population, but 

 it pays the passages only of the working classes. Ceylon 

 planters with some means left are finding their way 

 to Queensland in considerable numbers, and so with 

 Sinhalese emigrants. The Mr. Cran referred to is 

 probably uncle of a gentleman of the same name who 

 had charge of Messrs. Darley, Butler & Co.'s cotton 

 establishment at Tuticoriu. In company with Mr, 

 Tooth {brother of the ritualistic clergyman who was 

 imprisoned for contumacy) Mr. Cran engaged largely 

 in sugar cultivation in Queensland. — Ed.] 



TISSAMAHAEAiMA AND THE EICE-GROWINa 



ENTERPEIZE OF EUEOPE.ANS 



IN CEYLON, 



Sir,— The most authentic record of the early his- 

 tory of the Tissamaharama lands is to be found in the 

 Mahawanso. The details are given in Harrison's inter* 

 esting reports on the irrigation scheme drawn up 

 at the instance of Sir 11. Ward, who then cmtem- 

 plated the restoration of the ancient irrigation works. 



In 1859, attention was drawn to the spot by the 

 rebuilding of the great dagoba, then a ruin, which 

 was undertaken by a priest o.'' the Siamese sect, who 

 died before the completion of the work. This dagoba, 



