May i, 1885.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
745 
To the Editor. 
COFFEE AND THE TREATMENT OF 
FUNGOID DISEASES : 
AN OLD INDIAN COFFEE PLANTER TO THE 
RESCUE OF HIS BRETHREN. 
Lausanne, Switzerland, 13th March 1889. 
Deak Sir, — It is nearly five years since I saw the 
last of my little coffee plantation, " Benhope," on the 
Coonoor Ghaut, Nilgiri Hills. During this period mine 
has been no exception to the general experience of 
coffee planters of most serious loss from hemileia. 
Matters seem also from late accounts to be far from 
improving in this respect. As to anything in the way 
of palliatives, not to speak of remedies against it, I 
have heard nothing from India. 
However, since I have, in God's providence, been 
led here, I have, within the last two or three months, 
learnt of methods of treatment, which are in general 
use for combating a very serious form of fungoid 
disease known as mildew. This was introduced a few 
years back from America, and has caused very great 
damage to the vines grown on the Continent of Europe. 
These remedies as a preventive treatment against the 
ravages of the said fungus are found to be positively 
efficacious. Though I am no botanist, I understand 
mildew is a parasitic fungus, which feeds on the 
leaves of the vine known as Perouospora vittcola, 
and that it is quite distinct from our too well- 
known fungus Hemileia vastatrix, which feeds on the 
leaves of the coffee tree. But it takes no special 
acumen to note — that mildew and hemileia axe of the 
same vegetable order — that they are both propagated 
and developed in a like manner, that their destructive 
action is of the same kind, and that the enormous 
power of rapid reproduction of spores is a like 
feature. When we further bear in mind that the 
organic structure of the spores of the hemileia are 
known to be of a very delicate nature, it is but a 
natural conclusion that what would be inimical to 
the growth of the one mildew would be equally as 
to that of the other hemileia. The preventive 
treatment against mildew on the vines, consists 
in short of spreading over the leaves of the vine 
in the form of minute drops, by means of spray- 
ing machines made for the purpose, of a chemical sub- 
stance which without damaging the leaves, de- 
stroy the action of the spores and prevent their 
entering the leaves. Seeing that these remedies 
have succeeded so well in the cafe of mildew on the 
vines, why should not we have great reason for hoping 
that like treatment will prevail over the hemileia, or 
over coffee trees ? 
I am so far impressed with this view, that I ! have 
forwarded the information I have acquired to the 
manager of my plantation, and also sent him ten 
spraying machines, that he may put the treatment 
at once to a practical test. 
I do not introduce this treatment to your notice with 
any claim to full confidence in it, and my first thoughts 
were to test it quietly and to refrain from publicity 
till I could ooine forward with some authoritative 
information bused on practical demonstration. But 
I have subsequently concluded it would be bc:ttei to 
endeavour to make it generally known, that, as much 
interest as possible might be awakened, and investiga- 
tions made Irom as many quarters as possible, in the 
hope of thus arriving more speedily at confirmed 
II Mills. Besides as the matter is one of such supreme 
importance to coffee planters, I feel unwilling to 
keep it back, as there is to my mind a way of hope 
in it, and some fellow-planters now hopeless and pos- 
sibly thinking of sacrificing if not abandoning thoir 
plantations may bo led to stay from such a course on 
bearing of thip, and if the remedy prove a real one 
their properties will be saved to them by hearing of it 
in time. Knowing well your purpose of mind, I do 
not hesitate in applying to you for your kind help in 
dealing with this information for the public good. 
94 
which, unless my manager has forestalled me I 
believe will be new to you. So I forward to you by 
this mail Mr. J. Dufour's pamphlet on mildew, and 
a literal translation in English from which you will 
get all information on mildew and its treatment, and 
be able to form some first impressions of its likelihood 
in dealing successfully against hemileia or not. Though 
difficulties and objections may present themselves, I 
would say do not let these stand in the way of practi- 
cal experiment, which however cannot be done without 
the aid of spray producers. I have seen Mons. 
J. Dufour, who is the Professor in the School of 
Viticulture here, and he has expressed great interest 
in our proposed application of the treatment against 
hemileia. If you seek any further information I shall 
be glad to help in obtaining it. And if you or any 
other planters should wish for pulverisation or spray 
machines I can procure these here of the Japy make, 
which I understand is as good as any other, and if 
funds are provided I can order them to be sent out at 
the retail price of 371 francs each plus transport 
charges and packing. — I am, dear sir, yours faithfully, 
J. G. C.-H. 
[We are much obliged to our correspondent and 
shall hope to hear from his Coonoor Manager of 
the result of his experiment. Meantime we shall 
give in full detail in the Tropical Agriculturist the 
very interesting report by Mr. Dufour of Lausanne, on 
" Mildew and its treatment," see page 761. — There is 
much in in it which we can commend very earnestly 
to the consideration of our coffee planters. — Ed.] 
IRRIGATING COFFEE. 
S. . India, 29th March 1889. 
Sin, — I shall be much obliged if any of your 
correspondents who have the means of irrigating 
coffee, will give me a few details. 
My district has a rainfall of 85 inches ; altitude 
3,800 feet. No rain falls after end of December 
till the casual showers of April. 
When should irrigation commence ? and for 
how long continued and how often ? 
Is irrigation considered such an advantage, that 
with water available the process should be un- 
doubtedly adopted ? — Yours obediently, N. T. 
THE CEYLON-AMERICAN TEA COMPANY AND 
THE FALL IN PRICE OF TEA. 
31st March 1889. 
Dear Sir, — The fall in lea is becoming so serious 
that I hope every brother p anter will see the 
necessity of giving his support to the Ceylon Planters' 
American Tea Company. Those who cannot take 
two or more shares are encouraged and invited 
to take one, share, to prove that tlity have really 
an interest in the prosperity of the t-ountry. The 
object of the Company is to push the sale of Ceylon 
tea in one of the largest markets in the world, 
and if the Company is supported as it ought to be 
by every proprietor, agent, and superintendent, it 
is bound to succed in making our teas known ; and 
once they are known the demand for them will 
increase. If prices do not rise, the increased demand 
may help to spare us from these falling below a 
figure, at which tea cannot be manufactured to 
pay. Meantime we are in a very critioal position, 
and Mr. H. Whitham and other gentlemen at much 
expense and trouble have organized a company to 
help us out of our difficulty, but, however willing 
these gentlemen may be, they cannot carry on with- 
out funds, and it is to each and every individual 
they look for support. 
The object in view is of so vital importance to 
Ceylon, that Chairmen of district Associations should 
lay the prospectus of the oompany before their As- 
sociations, and take as much interest in advocating 
the benefits to the country of such a company aa 
the) did in ad\ocating the Elwood May scheme. 
