DISEASES, ETC. 53 



and this forms a funnel to catch and keep all the rain 

 that trickles down the stem, and thereby rots the root. 

 Both these defects are, however, within the control of 

 the planter; but of the evils beyond his power the 

 worst are undoubtedly the Borer and the Bug. 



The former of these is a white or brownish grub, 

 being the larva of one of the numerous small flying 

 beetles common in the tropics. These breed in rotten 

 and decaying timber, and find, therefore, every encou- 

 ragement in coffee estates. These beetles eat a small 

 hole, resembling the puncture of a gimlet, horizontally 

 into the tree ; they then undergo the transformation 

 into the grub, and continue their devastations perpen- 

 dicularly both up and down the tree, until the tree dies. 

 The part of the tree above their entrance generally 

 gives unmistakable indications at once of their presence, 

 and if these are noticed, and the tree cut off at the 

 place where the perforation is seen, the grub will be 

 found inside, and the lower portion of the tree will be 

 saved and ultimately send out a sucker to supply the 

 place of the lost stem. But it frequently occurs that 

 large trees with heavy crops on them fall victims to 

 this pest, and then it becomes necessary to root up the 

 old tree and plant a fresh seedling in its place. The 

 beetles may be observed flying about in numbers in 

 the evenings after rain in March, April, and May, and 

 if bright fires of weeds, grass, etc., are lighted on the 

 various roads and other vacant places in the estates, 

 they will be attracted by the blaze and light, and fly 

 into the fires. This method has been found very 

 efficacious, and is neither expensive or difficult of 

 execution. It may be remarked that the borer is most 



