November i, 1881.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
459 
itself into the trunk of the tree, gradually works up 
to the top, when the tree dies, and that I believe 
the appearance of this insect is due in a great measure 
to the utter want of care bestowed upon the trees by 
its cultivators. I cannot but hope that some easy 
remedy may be found to combat successfully the 
damage whioh is caused by this insect to the coconut 
cultivation of these Islands." 
Mr. Home's letter is a running comment on Mr. 
Stewart's. We extraot the following paragraphs : — 
" All purely tropical agricultural products thrive in 
Seychelles in a most admirable manner. Cloves, 
pepper, and cocoa grow without any attention 
or care from the inhabitants all over the country, 
as if they were indigenous, especially in Mahe. 
The common coffee, and cinnamon, escaped from for- 
mer plantations, may be seen growing like native 
plants in many ports of the forests and in nearly 
all the islands of the Archipelago. A species of vanilla 
(Vanilla Phalaenopsis) "Liane sans feuille," is wild, 
and everywhere, in sunshine or shade, this plant may 
be seen scrambling over the rocks. The semi-sponta- 
neous growth of these kinds of plants not, only shows 
how well the climate and soil of Seychelles are adopted 
to them, but it clearly indicates the success which 
will attend their cultivation whenever seriously en- 
tered upon. Experiments in their cultivation are not 
needed. The planters have simply to plant, cultivate, 
gather, and prepare the produce for the market. 
The suggestion of introducing Malays who understand 
the cultivation of the pepper and preparation of 
the produce for the market is an excellent one. 
Liberiau coffee is likely to take the lead, and it wil 
grow well on every part of these Islands, whether 
the land has been planted with coconut trees or 
not — sandy beaches of a saline nature, perhaps, ex- 
cepted ; cocoa will thrive best in the sheltered fertile 
valleys in the interior of Mali 6, Silhouette, Praslin, 
La Digue, &C. ('arc must be taken not to introduce 
plants nor seeds, &c., of the Liberiau coffee, nor of 
any other thing from Ceylon, for fear of introduc- 
ing tho coffee leal fungus, which has been so dis- 
astrous to the coffee plants in that country, Southern 
India, Singapore, .lava, &c. This fungus was intro- 
duced to Fiji with coffee sent from Ceylon. The 
Government of that colony put itself to great ex- 
pense in endeavouring to extirpate it, and, according 
to latost information, • success was very doubtful. The 
introduction of this pest would cither ruin Seychelles 
as a coffee growing country or greatly detract from 
its value as such. A good precaution against its 
introduction would be to disinfect seeds, &c, coming 
from any of these countries into Seychelles, with 
sulphur and lime, &c, and even people's clothes, 
whether in portmanteaus or on their owner's back. 
It may safely be concluded from a mass of evidence 
that no variety of the coffee plaut is exempted from 
the attacks of this fungus, and that of Liberia suffers 
severely in Ceylon. 
" Tho teak tree appears to thrive in Seychelles ; so 
also will Sal, Sissoo and Toon, which are among the 
principal useful forest trees of tropical India. These 
should be freely introduced to the forests of Seychelles, i 
So alao the South American Rubber trees, viz : Manihot 
glazovii (tho Ceara Rubber tree) Heveas and Castilloas. 
Plants of tho two former will be sent to the Chief 
Commissioner as soon as tho young plants will bo fit 
lor transportation. Three Warclian cases of Nutmeg 
plants will also bo sent at an early date. No oppor- 
tunity should bo lost in making tho Crown reserves 
useful to tho community, and making them self-sup- 
porting if Dot remunerative beyond their up-keep and 
watching. While not unmindful of oxotic species, 
whioh will flourish in Seychelles, I would draw 
attention to some of the most useful of tho natiTe 
forest produce, the growth of which ought to lie 
encouraged. These are in order of merit. Bois de 
Natte (Imbrkaria sp.t.) This tree yields a timber 
which rivals the mahogany— Bois de fer (vateria 
SeycheMarum.) This large forest tree yields a most 
excellent and endurable timber. Capucin, (not 
yet botanioally known) also grows to a large size 
and yields an almost indestructible timber of great 
value. Gayac or Faux Gayac ( Afzealia bijicga. ) This 
tree attains large dimensions and grows in rocky land 
by the sea shore. Its timber is of great value and repute 
for a variety of domestic uses. Bois rouge and Moire - 
are of smaller import, but still worthy of preservation 
and increase. The same may also be said of the 
Filoa, which thrives on the poorest of soil, and sometimes 
attains a height of 150 feet with trunk whose diameter 
is nearly 7 feet. The Lette ( VersehaffeUia splendida) 
is a large growing palm whose trunk is split and the 
outside slabs are used as palisades in house building. 
Palmiste Haut Baum [Slevensionia grandifoUa) ; the large 
entire leaves of this palm are used for thatch. Palmiste 
Choru (Dkhcnia nooiles) ; the heart of this tree is a 
mo3t useful and excellent vegetable. Owing to the 
numbers of it which are annually felled, and as 
there are none planted to replace those cut, the tree 
is becoming more and more scarce. The extension of 
this tree in Government forests is most desirable. 
Coco de Mer (Lodoicea iSechellarum) is, not only on 
account of its unicpicness and rareness, but also on 
account of its utility, a subject worthy of attention 
and care. It should be planted in all the reserves. 
Cocoa marron (Ourculigo Seychdlensis,) yields leaves 
useful for cordage, and also for enveloping tobacco, 
&c. This list might be added to, but I hope it is 
sufficient to show what is meant. In fact the growth 
of every wild plant that is of utility, even in re- 
mote degree, to the community should be encouraged 
in the Government forests ; and the little raspberry 
[Robus rosaefolim) which yields a fine fruit, and also 
line apples, which grow wild and by the acre where 
nothing else would thrive. Another plant, Bois dur, 
(Plcclronia bibractiata,) is the source of the beautiful 
walkiug sticks for which Seychelles is famous. On 
this account it will soon become extinct. It thrives 
on soil of the poorest description, and it is worthy 
of preservation in Government reserves suitable to 
its growth." 
NEW PRODUCTS IN THE LOW-COUNTRY 
OF CEYLON. 
GENERAL REPORT : 
CACAO AND CRICKETS; LIBERIAN COFFEE; LEAF DISEASE ; 
WHITEANTS; THE RAILWAY AND LOWCOUNTRY 
TRAFFIC. 
Western Province, Oct. 3rd, 1S81. 
The weather of September was showery up to the 
20th, after which we had eight days dry and hot, 
when it again became showery. 
I was rather hasty in assuming, in my last report, that 
the crickets had moderated their ravages. It was only a 
lull of a few days, after which they set to work with 
fresh vigor, and are still going on ; cutting leaves even 
on last year's plants, cutting daily fresh plants, and 
destroying the buds by which those cut formerly were 
endeavouring to re-establish themselves. Already 
twenty-live per cent of the last planting havo been 
cut, and, as they coutiuue to operate up to the mid- 
dle of November, they have time to do a great deal 
more injury before they die. For two years I have 
been trying to observe their habits, with a view of 
counteracting their operations, but my progress 
has not been encouraging. I kuow that they begin 
to appear about tho beginning of March and that 
they disappear about tho middle of May ; that they 
reappear in tho latter end of August, and again dis- 
