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a doubtful remedy to recommend, fend yet, strange to say 

 such has actually been found by me greatly to assist trees 

 to combat with this pest and further, if the operation is ex- 

 tended to the affected branches the effect is very satisfact- 

 ory. The modus operand! is extremely simple and many 

 a fine healthy shoot may be saved by simply passing the 

 first two fingers somewhat roughly over its lower surface 

 without touching the leaves at all. Such is only a very 

 mild palliative and of course could not be universally adop- 

 ted, still it is very simple and ono who takes an interest 

 even in the mere appearance of some of his best trees will 

 find it very easily performed in the incipent stages when 

 perhaps only a branch here and there is affected. The 

 pellicle of the Rot soon dries up in sunny weather and as 

 Dr. Bidie only makes a cursory remark on the subject, 

 I fancy the presence of the web in its dry state did not 

 attract his attention. I have myself met several Plan- 

 ters who had never noticed the web at all. I have 

 however carefully examined the leaves of coffee trees in 

 places in which I was led to expect the disease to appear. 

 I have daily watched for the first appearance of the foe and 

 .have daily noted the stealthy advance made by the myce- 

 lium threads over the healthy leaf. By the aid of but an 

 ordinary miscroscope any one can distinguish the web on 

 leaves, which to all outward appearance are healthy and 

 vigorous. A few days is sufficient to effect complete des- 

 truction but if the film, even in its advanced stage, be rubbed 

 off with tho finger, the progress of decay is immediately ar- 

 rested- I have heard many theories relating to the causes 

 of Rot and among them one was that the foliage in the mon- 

 soon was too thick; and that the remedy was severe hand- 

 ling. Probably the remedy was good ; but the benefit was not 

 derived from free ventilation alone. I believe handling equa- 

 Ijf&ea the distribution of the sap and in a tree too full of new 

 if.ood. there are always many shoots less nourished than 



