3 



is indicated by discolouration in the root stock. Now when suckers are cut off from the old plant with 

 a spade they should be inspected and all brown and rotten portions should bo carefully removed, and 

 all suckers from which these brown and discoloured portions cannot be removed without destroying the 

 chances of growing should be discarded. Of course, if the sucker is set out with some of this diseased 

 issue attached to it when it grows the diseased tissue keeps pace with the growth and it will not be 

 long before the plant is seriously hindered and perhaps altogether destroyed by this rot ut the root. 



Agricultural Gazette of New South Wales. 



COCO-NUT DISEASE AT MONTEGO BAY. 



In Bulletin No. 23 for September, 1891, a Report was published on this Disease. The following 

 successful deilCe8h0WS thatthe 81m P l0 remed y°f burning the leaves in the early stages, has proved 



W. Fawcett, Esq., Gordon Town P.O. M ° nteg ° Bay ' 4th Ma * 1892/ 



Dear Sir, 



■pj u°Z l TVL dai02SthU ^ m ° J duI 3' received, the subject of which I communicated to Mr 

 Doull and attach the correspondence for your information. I entirely agree with Mr. Doull that the 



gesTed 18 8preadmg ' aDd n ° ° ne ' 80 far as 1 am abl ° t0 ascertain ^ tried the other remedies you i sug! 



The disease is steadily thinning the coco-nut trees in and around the town and its progress ap- 

 pears more rapid in the dry weather than in the rainy seasons. F « 'e»s up 



8 • > hmi I have, &c, 



J. W. Gruber. 



Dear gir Montego Bay, 30th April, 1892. 



Mr. Fawcett would be glad to know whether you tried the remedies suggested to check the coco- 

 nut disease, and if so with what result. 



avJxLt* treeS reC0VeriD S natura l'y «nd without the application of a remedy, or is the disease 



lours, &c, 



J. W. Gruber. 



Alex. Doull, Esq., Catherine Hall Estate, Montego Bay. , 



Reply. 



I have not as yet tried the Sulphate of Iron remedy. I have continued the application of Salt 

 and have kept to the firing of the Trees and as far as I can judge at present I consider the last named 

 remedy good — if the Trees are not too far gone when fired. A good number that were fired last year 

 are now bearing fruit. The trees do not recover naturally and the disease is certainly spreading. 



A.D. 



Catherine Hall Estate, 2.5.92. 



PARCHMENT COFFEE. 



In Bulletin No. 8 for October, 1888, attention was called to the system of sending coffee in parch- 

 ment to England to be cleaned there. 



Messrs Lewis & Peat in a communication to Kew Gardens, says, " most satisfactory results have 

 been attained. We have recently sold large parcels from America which were 'milled' here; and 

 against 70s. per cwt. obtained last year for the same coffee cleaned on the plantation we obtained 86s. 

 per cwt., although prices all round were lower. Experience shows that the husk or parchment protects 

 the bean from atmospheric influences which affect the colour, and in every instance where trials have been 

 made the result has invariably been in favour of cleaning here. The process is quite simple, and the 

 cost is 2s. 6d. per cwt., including everything. The coffee must be pulped and the cherry got rid of on 

 the plantation, but the most important matter is the drying. It is absolutely necessary that the parch- 

 ment must be perfectly dried and kept from moisture afterwards, — insufficient drying is most damag- 

 ing to after results —and must have the greatest care." 



In Bulletins 12 and 14, there are further notes on the subject. 



While coffee planters in Jamaica, who have the full complement of machinery and water power, 

 may consider it not worth while to enter upon the new system, there appears to be no doubt that under 

 other circumstances, it is decidedly advantageous to ship the coffee in parchment ; and it is understood 

 that planters in Costa Rica are even abandoning new machinery, finding that the new system effects 

 such a saving. 



In calling attention again to this subject, the following information is added, contributed by Mr. 

 W. A. Sabonadiere of Arntully, who received the replies to his questions from a well known English 

 broker. 



