MANUAL OF THE NtLAOIKI DISTRICT. 509 



but in my opinion these empty berries are one effect of the leaf- CH. XXVlir. 

 disease^ and as far as I am aware^ were unknown till this disease „ 

 appeared. The leaf-disease is most capricious in its attack, Cultivation. 

 appearing and disappearing without any apparent cause, affecting ~~ — 

 both poor and healthy looking trees, on all kinds of soil and at all 

 elevations ; but, as a rule, the "chicks'' suffer most and earliest 

 from its attacks, whilst it is beginning to be generally allowed that 

 trees under shade are not so badly crippled as those in the open, 

 so that, perhaps, as was found with the borer, shade combined 

 with high cultivation may prove a remedy or at any rate a 

 palliative. 



None of these plagues seems to have affected the plantations on 

 the Nilagiris as seriously as they have done those in the low 

 country of Waindd, Mysore, Coorg, Travancore or even in Ceylon ; 

 but I imagine that no coffoe planter can say that his crops have 

 not been more or less reduced by leaf -disease.' 



1 Replies to queries from Nilagiri planters on the leaf-disease will be found 

 in G.Os., dated 30th November 1875, No. 1,715, Revenue Department ; 8th 

 March 1876, No. 336, Revenue Department ; and 6th July 1876, No. 006, Revenue 

 Department. 



