22 



actually by removing the natural food of fungi and keeping 

 up a constant supply of plant food is the operation par ex- 

 cellence for mitigating the ravages of fungoid pests. I am 

 convinced that the causes which induce Leaf Disease 

 and Rot in Coffee- are identical in- at least some respects 



I am of opinion that the development of fungi is favor- 

 ed by certain abnormal peculiarities of a naturally parasitic 

 soil, consequent on. faulty mechanical and chemical condi- 

 tions and a diminution of its solvent properties, caused by 

 the exhaustion of special elements ; these have the effect 

 of prolonging at certain seasons of the year peculiar phases 

 in the process of decomposition of organic remains which 

 eminently favor the development of fungi generally. Ex- 

 ception I am aware may be taken, as the necessity for drain- 

 ing as Leaf Disease generally appears in the most virulent 

 form on exposed hill tops and, faces-* As I have before 

 mentioned, land which has been long exposed and super- 

 ficially, worked, gets into a cold and< plastic state and as all 

 the finer particles from a hill top have long since been wash- 

 ed away, I am strongly of opinion that such sites are more 

 i n need of deep workin g than any other. Surface drainage, 

 actually makes soil richer, and its influence on by groin etric 

 properties is unquestionable. As rain water is the vehicle 

 in which plants food, is dissolved and rendered available ife 

 stands to reason the fresher the supply the better the plant 

 is nourished. A soil out of condition, however, often greedily 

 absorbs water, but once saturated, it remains so, until the 

 water is actually evaporated by the sun. What the cultivat- 

 ed plant requires is a firm, porous soil, well'mixed^ and 1 sweet, 

 and sut?h alone can be obtained by systematic attention to 

 digging and draining at the proper seasons of the year. 



Draining the surface has in my experience had tho ef- 

 fect of making Leaf Disease run through its phases more 

 rapidly probably by removing the food for the f angus and 



