June r, 1894.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
COFFEE LEAF DISEASE IN COSTA RICA. 
The oultivation of coffee bids fair to oome to an 
end, i{ not all over the world, at least in all those 
countries whose chief staple it has hitherto been. 
Oeylon was almost the first of these to succumb, 
Java followed and Brazil was only able to exist 
80 long by the vastness of its reserves. In Oosta 
Bica the diseased foliage of the coffee plant is 
now assuming the acute stage, and it remains to 
be seen whether soienae — having the experience 
of Oeylon and other countries as a guide — will be 
able to check and arrest the spread of the disease. 
So far, the able scientist, "Adolpho Touduz," 
appointed thus early in the appearance there of 
the attack by the Oosta Bioa Government, is of 
opinion that " fire" only can arrest the spread of 
the contagion. He says in his preliminary report : 
" it would be imperative to take energetic measures 
to prevent its propagation, destroying by fire the 
first centres of infection, as the only method of 
getting rid of the millions of spores, which, endowed 
with a wonderful vitality, only need a favourable 
opportunity to germinate and propagate themselves." 
This was our case in Ceylon, and it may have 
been that had those central parts of Madulsima 
where it first appeared, bean ruthlessly fired 
and destroyed, the disaster which overtook 
OB might have been averted, or at least long 
delayed ; but who can tell ? Mr. Donald Beid 
did, indeed, keep a force of coolies collecting 
and burning the affected leaves, but a more whole- 
sale application of the devouring element was 
essential, had the rest of Ceylon been alive to 
its danger. The fungus attacking the Costa Bica 
coffee is pronounced by Mr. Tooduz to be not 
Uemileia Vastatrix; and — so far as science is con- 
oerned— it is as well to note the distinction ; but 
inasmuch as its life-history is pretty much the 
same and ia followed by the same dire eSeots, 
it can only be a variation in the type. ' ' Its spores 
are carried by the wind till alighting on the 
healthy leaves, it penetrates into the interior by 
the stomata, and produces filaments which spread 
among the cells. Exteriorily a light brown spot 
is noticeable, but the fungus continues to spread, 
and soon there appear, on the interior surface, 
certain filaments whose apes bears the reproduc- 
ing organs," For a full translation especially 
made from the Spanish by Mr. A. M. Ferguson 
for the Tropical Agriculturist of this valuable report, 
Eee next column. 
In speaking of Heviileia Vastatrix, Professor Tondaz 
says : " it caused in 10 years a loss of 12 to 15 million 
pounds sterling to the producers of coffee in the 
island of Ceylon. But notice that I mention it as the 
unique example of a parasitical fungus, and that, 
happily it cannot be compared to the fungus 
which attacks our cofiee here." So much the better 
(or Costa Bica. But the producer will not quarrel 
with the Boientist cn this point, if only the im- 
pendicg danger is fully recognised in good time. 
Professor Tonduz says : " the eiok plants appear 
as vigorous as their unscathed neighbours," but 
80 did the affected trees in Oeylon appear for the 
first and second years. " But," he goes on to say, 
" on examining them more nearly I found the 
ground covered with (alien leaves whose surface 
was spotted with greyish spots- A greet number 
of cherries also spotted, lay on the ground." This 
also agrees with our experience in Ceylon; and, 
therefore, it is we (oar tnat coffee in Oosta Ilioa 
is doomed by the attack of a (UDgus even i( it 
be not our own Uemileia Vastatrix. Speaking o( the 
planters, t'rof. Tonduz says: " lu nil countries 
and at all times the planter has never had much 
/litb in the inveatigatioDS of botanieta, kcd espeoi* 
m 
ally of cryptogamists. The rustic needs a powerful 
stirring up of his intellect to cause him to com- 
prehend that in the immense family o( the fungi 
the number of the minute ones is greater than 
that of the larger kinds, that the harmful surpass 
the innocuous, &o. One old planter told me that 
the disease had always existed in the country." 
We will close our notice of a Report which will 
repay perusal in full, with the foregoing quotation 
as it seems to have a practical bearing upon our- 
selves, at this time, when we find " leading plant- 
ers" opposing the appointment of an Entomologist 
for Ceylon. 
COFFEE LEAP DISEASE IN COSTA RICA. 
^Translated by A. M. FERGUSON for the " Tropical 
Ar/rimltttrist."} 
National Physico-Geographical Listitute. 
Botanical Section. 
luformation regarding the Coffee Disease; by 
Adolfo Tonduz, Chief of the Botanical Section 
of the National Physico-Geographical Institute 1893. 
San Jose de Costa Bica, Central America, Govern- 
ment Press. 
To the Miyiister of Public Instruction. 
Sir, — In your letter No. 34 of 31st August last, you 
did me the honour to ask me for some detailed in- 
formation regarding a disease from which the Coffee- 
shrubs of Costa Bica are suffering this year. Having 
just returned from a botanical exploration of the 
valley of Tuis, I occupied myself with the subject 
without more delay, and examined with the greatest 
care the two eoclosed leaves which accompanied 
your note. The preliminary essay, which I have 
submitted to your honor's illustrious consideration 
divides itself into two parts : the first refers to my 
own observations and the conclusions which are 
derived therefrom : the second is a resumfi of what 
I have been able to gather from other sources re- 
lative to the diseases of Coffee in general, 
I. 
Prom the commencement of my investigations, 
I recognised the absolute necessity of studying the 
disease in the very locality of its development. 
With this object I visited a great number of Coffee 
estates of different ages, varieties and exposures, in 
all the environs of San Jose. The diaeasa was 
generally prevalent, but almost always in an iso- 
lated or sporadic condition, without ever afl'ecting 
the adjoining bulk of the estate. Neither did I 
meet with withered or much injured Coffee bushes 
whose morbid condition could be attributed to the 
disease. 
I noted that, in the majority of cases, the bushes 
most virulently affected were those which were situ- 
ated in dense shade, under large trees of pord agua- 
cate, cuojiniquil or of very umbrageous plantains. 
Likewise the plantations made on the shady borders 
of water-courses appeared to me specially affected. 
The disease presented itself under the following 
aspect : — In reality, the sick bushes were found 
isolated, as having just been affected, or, at the 
most, in groups of twos or threes. Near the sta- 
tion of the "Iron Cartwheel" only did I (see a 
Coffee estate in which whole lines were affected. 
The sick plants appeared as vigorous as their un- 
scathed neighbours, and the majority were in fruit 
in spite of it. But, on examining them more nearly, 
I found the ground covered with fallen leaves, whose 
surface was sprinkled with greyish spots. A great 
number of cherries, spotted, also lay on the ground. 
The diseased stem hardly shows any healthy loaves, 
except such as arc at the top, in wliich noverthelesa 
the plague is mot with at the period of Ihdr ileve~ 
lopmciU. The now branches, whose thickness va- 
ried between that of a feather and thit of a poocil 
were also spotted with the same bldckish-(jrcy coloured 
signs aud had already lost pajrt of tbeir foavea %\^% 
fruit. 
