May i, 1890.3 
• 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
779 
COCONUT LEAF DISEASE. 
28th January. 
I received the accompanying very cheering letter 
from Dr. Trimen this evening, and I hasten to make 
it public : a liberty which I am sure will be excused, 
considering the importance of tbe subject. Dr. Trimen 
visited the estate from which I write about a little 
over a fortnight ago, and was impressed with the 
appearance of the affected trees, and was puzzled at 
the erratic way they were attacker). Individual trees 
were affected in all manner of soils and in different 
situations, so that no general opinion as to the un- 
suitably of particular soils or situation could be ox- 
pressed. I shewed him two plants standing side by 
side on a good, free, sandy loam. Their growth was 
equal ; but one was affected, and the other not. 
He suggested their being photographed. The time 
at his disposal did not permit of my showing him 
something more striking. It is a splendid specimen of 
a young tree just coming into bearing, with a stem 
two feet high and five feet in circumference at the 
thickest part. It has a splendid head of fronds, all 
affected, while the surrounding plants have not formed 
Btems as yet, and are about two or three years be- 
hind this one in growth, but are almost free of 
disease! How is this? In the face of what Dr. Trimen 
faw. I believe he considered that the theory of mal- 
nutrition could not explain the attack generally. 
It is satisfactory to have the opinion of so com- 
petent an authority that the disease is not communic- 
able ; but the appearance of the affected trees and 
the fact that most of those affected last year are 
again very bad this year, is cause for anxiety. 
Perhaps Mr. Drieberg, who has paid close at ient : on 
to plaut food, will be able to say whether a libe al 
application of ashes with a stimulating nitrogenous 
manure having saline properties, so as to absorb 
moisture and keep the soil cool and moist in dry wea'her 
will be good, after stirring the soil deep. I suggest a 
nitrogenous manure so that the trees might be stimu- 
lated to throw out fresh healthy fronds to replace those 
affected. Will sulphate of ammonia do; or will 
guano answer as well ? 
I may mention that in March last year I chose 
out six badly affeoted trees. To two I applied half a 
basket of lime each, to two a basket of ashes each, 
and to two half a measure of salt each. One of the 
trees treated with lime was pretty free of disease 
and the other was affected, the same with those 
treated with ashes, while those which had salt were 
very badly affected ; but the mechanical condition of 
the soil where salt was applied turned out markedly 
free, though it was a hard gravelly soil originally. 
No conclusions could be drawn from those experiments 
because they were on so limited a scale, and because 
the results are so contradictory. 
I have forked the soil round all the plants of over 
al half of this plantation with 12 inch forks during 
the last S. W. rains, and given each plant half a bushel 
of ashes. It is too early to look for results still. 
It will be observed that Dr. Trimen's opinion of 
the disease is a negative one, i.e.; that the disease 
is not caused by a vegetable fungus. It will be inter, 
esting now to have Mr Drieberg's opinion after his 
closer study of the subject as to what he thinks are the 
causes at work and what remedies he suggests. — B. 
— Local " Examiner." 
♦ 
THE JALAP PLANT. 
This plant has been figured in several horticultural 
books under the name of Exogonium purga, but recent 
authorities have referred it to the genus Ipomoea. It 
is found growing wild in Mexico, particularly near 
Jalapa, and ws learn from the Key* Guide to the Museum 
of Economic Botany, that about 180,000 lb of Jalap are 
imported annually from Vera Cruz into the United 
Kingdom alone, statistics which show that tbe British 
publio have a considerable demand for the drastio 
purgative. The medicinal properties of the plant are 
found in the large, fleshy, tuberous, perennial root- 
ptook. The plant when grown out-of-doors, usually 
99 
dies back to the root, and the growth is consequently 
late in forming, so that it rarely flowers well outside 
in this country. But when the plant is cultivated in a 
cool greenhouse it is not at all to be despised as a deco- 
rative subject, and its (wining shoots render it very 
suitable for draping pillars, covering any bit of trellis- 
work, or as a rafter plant. 
Like most other Ipomcsas, it is of easy cultivation, 
but is most at home when planted out in a fairly rich 
well-drained border, in a light position, and wheie it 
can get plenty of air; under which oondi Hons it will 
make sturdy floriferous growth, not liable to be affeoted 
with insect pests. The flowers produced on rather long 
peduncles, usually singly, are of a deep rosy purple 
colour, and midway in shape between a funnel and 
salver, the tube being about 2| inches long, and the 
five-lobed limb about 2 inches acros?, and they are 
thrown well above the shiny, green, deeply cordate, 
aouminate foliage ; and the only drawbaok whioh they 
have is, in common with other members of the genus, 
their short duration, lasting only from morning to 
night, but keep up a good succession throughout the 
autumn months. After flowering haB ceased, the plants 
should be trimmed back, and encouraged to make fresh 
growth early in the season. If grown in a warm tem- 
perature, the plant has a tendency to become weedy. 
A oool airy greenhouse is the most suitable place. — F. K. 
— Gardeners' Chronicle. 
9 
BOKNEO AND SUMATRA TOBACCO. 
The home correspondent of the Deli Courant says 
that the only defect in Sumatra tobacco is its bad 
burning, while Borneo tobacco burns very white. 
It is only in this respect that Sumatra tobacco is 
slightly inferior to Borneo, but lionieo leaf is not 
fine, neither is it elastic, and it has not that 
polish or brilliancy which is remarkable in the 
Sumatra leaf. Its quality is between Deli and Java 
tobacco and, adds the correspondent, if no better 
tobacco can be grown there it is not difficult to 
see how long the planters will continue planting, 
especially with the expensive labour they are obliged 
to employ. The tobacco they produce cannot 
bear comparison ' with Sumatra tobacco, and is 
not looked upon by brokers as a possible rival. 
He further says that Mr. M. Velge, late administrator 
of Kwaloe Begoeniet, Deli, has returned to England 
after having gone through British Borneo for the 
purpose of seeking land fit for tobacco cultivation. 
Not an acre of good soil did he see, nor has he 
asked for any concession. The report of his old 
assistant, Van der Hoeven at present manager of 
the Amsterdam Borneo Tobacco Company, is, how- 
ever favourable. — Pinang Gazette. 
*■ 
L1BERIAN COFFEE CULTIVATION. 
To the Editor " Singapore Free Pbess." 
Sir, — If your correspondent " Planter " of Oct. 26th 
will favor us with a call. I shall have much pleasure in 
answering any questions, or in shewing him photographs 
of the Estates, and any accounts that may be of in- 
terest to him. 
The Estates to which your correspondent alludes are 
manured more or less in the following manner after the 
first four years are completed : — 
1st year Tallow cake poonac 1ft ) . 
Bones JftJ 
2nd year Burnt earth, poonac, and J ft of bones. 
3rd „ Lime and lalang thatching. 
4th ,; Any bulky manure with a few boneSi 
5th „ Same as first year. 
The bones cost $32/- a toD, poonac, $11/- per ton pro. 
cured locally from Messrs. D. Brandt & Oo. ; Lime 88/- 
per ton ; lalang the cost of cutting, and burnt earth the 
oost of making. The expense of manuring including the 
cost of manure, transport, etc, comes to £5 per acre at 
the most, the results therefrom being larger and more 
regular orops of from 3 to 5 owt. per aore more than 
from unmanured coffee. Allowing ouly an extra 3 owt. 
this would represent at least an extra profit of £7 per 
