6 COFFEE UUG AND COFFEE MILDEW. 



from tlie surface ; and tliat they must have been well supplied 

 with moisture is certain, from the fact that the district is one of 

 the most rainy in the island. The roots of the plants must also 

 have found great difficulty in penetrating through the sides of 

 the holes, and, indeed, the whole appearance of the trees shows 

 that matters are not going on well with tliem at bottom. Nearly 

 all of them have a lanky look, throw out few or no lateral shoots 

 from their lower branches, and, on an average, only yield at the 

 best of times from four to five cwt. of coffee per acre, or about 

 one-!ialf of the usual crop of average estates in other districts. 



" On nearly all those estates where I have been able to trace 

 the rise and progress of the epidemic, the coccus has been first 

 observed in moist hollow places sheltered from the wind, and 

 from thence has spread itself in all directions, even over the 

 driest and most exposed localities. This is not, however, uni- 

 versal, as on a few estates, such as those of Pen-y-lan and Da- 

 kanyke, it first appeared on dry exposed places. That it prefers 

 moist sheltered situations is certain, as, on the Lapallagalla and 

 Muruta estates, Avhich, about a year ago, had become nearly 

 free of the pest, it still clung in a very obvious manner to those 

 trees that were situated by the side of little streams of water in 

 hollows and ravines. 



" The extent of the injury caused by the epidemic was found 

 to vary considerably in the different districts visited, but was 

 always more or less in proportion to the lengtii of time it had 

 been first observed." 



[Mr. Gardner describes in detail the ravages produced by the 

 combined action of the coccus and the parasitical fungus ; they 

 were so extensive as to cause Lord Torrington to speak of them 

 in the following words : — ] 



" The effects are most serious ; one estate has been reported to 

 me in which the production of a single season, wliich, calculated 

 upon that of tlie previous one, ought to have been 2000 cwt,, fell 

 suddenly to 700 cwt., the difference being destroyed in a few 

 months by the bug, and to the present hour no improvement has 

 taken place in its condition. Others have been more or less un- 

 fortunate. In some the insect has disappeared partially, and par- 

 tially returned ; and, in some few, wlience it has entirely passed 

 away, the trees are now covered with fresh and healthy leaves 

 and promise an abundant harvest, but unfortunately we are not 

 in a condition to pronounce when this may not again be blighted 

 by another visit from the bug." 



[No specimens of the insect are known to have reached this 

 country. The parasitical plant has been sent to the Rev. Mr. 

 Berkeley, who has furnished the Society with tlie following in- 

 teresting account of it : — ] 



