Grubs, Rats. 275 



trees moderately, so that the sun and air may play 

 freely through the foliage. 



Grubs. Coffee-trees, previously the finest in a 

 field, not uncommonly die off in the most disheart- 

 ening manner, without any apparent cause, and just 

 after exhibiting the perfection of luxuriant growth. 

 This is most frequently the case in rich soils, full 

 of organic matter, or where cattle manure has been 

 generously bestowed. On digging round the tree, 

 it will almost invariably 'be found that the roots, 

 or, to speak more precisely, the tap-root, has been 

 attacked by grubs. 



A Ceylon planter, many years ago, determining 

 to have a field of coffee that would surpass in 

 luxuriance and productiveness anything previously 

 known, half-filled each hole, before the plants 

 were put in, with manure. To his great surprise 

 and chagrin, in the second year some 25 per cent, 

 of the plants died off. In order to discover the 

 reason, he had these all dug out, and found that in 

 every case, the tap-root had been partially destroyed 

 by large, yellow grubs, which had been generated 

 by, or, at any rate, had congregated in, the decay- 

 ing manure. The only thing that can be done 

 when such symptoms appear, is at once to set to 

 work and dig out the offending causes. 



Rats y especially a description known as the 

 Golonda Rat, sometimes make raids on the coffee, 

 T 2 



