8to 
THfi TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [June i, 1894. 
abode is between the bark and the woody fibre of 
the said roots. They are black filaments that 
generally run down the roots lengthwise and by turns 
envelop it completely or partially. This fungus 
appears to be the inseparable companion of the 
thread-worm, but, according to Doctor Goldi, its 
performance is only subordinate : at the most it 
acts as the aide-de-camp of the destructive grub. 
It has not been possible to classify it with certainty, 
but it is supposed that it belongs to the numerous 
family of the Pirenomicetes. 
In the infected Coffee-plantations, says Mr. Goldi, 
" are to be seen a prodigious number of spotted 
leaves." Each spot consists of a gray or blackish 
dot whose diameter varies according to the age- 
This centre is seen to be encompassed by a yellow 
aureole. These spots appear principally at the 
point or on the margins of the leaves, and invade 
the tender branches as well. The fungus to which 
they are due belongs to the family ol the Jfiamulai ia. 
But Mr. Goldi agrees that in no way can the 
Coffee-disease of Brazil be ascribed to the Ramu- 
laria. Speaking of the fruit, he says that be has 
hardly found in it fungi of the fecoiid or third 
rank, which could be considered as accidental 
guests. 
Considering the lack of types of omparison, and 
referring solely to the descriptions, it appears certain 
that the Bamularia is not the fungus which attacks 
our Coffee-trees, But the perusal of Goldi's report 
gives us the impression that, although less dangerous 
than the thread-worm, it nevertheless does not 
abstain from working havoc amongst the Brazi ian 
plantations, and that it has been considered too super- 
ficially. Had I been at the seat of its outbreak, 
I would not have, been bold enough to have shared 
the optimism of the author relative to this plague. 
Dr. Goldi nowever, quotes three different fungi 
which he met with in the Coffee-shrubs during the 
course of his investigations, but considers them to 
be altogether harmless. 
(To be concluded.) 
♦ 
PICKINGS WITH A LOCAL APPLICATION. 
A writer %o the Sugar Journal and Tropical Culti- 
vator writes enthasiasiically of the prospects of Coco- 
nut Cultivation in the Sonthern Continent : — 
" For some time past," he says, " the Government 
baa been planting the islanda off the ooaat with ooco- 
nnt trees. Many of these are four years old and 
will bear in a ooaple of years ;the others are coming 
on well. Probably all of them wilt be fit to yield 
their returns to the man who farma them within the 
nest three or four years. There are in all some 
4,000 trees now planted, the largest number being on 
M Island with 1,500, and M Island (Brampton) 550. 
When the 4,000 trees are in full bearing it is a 
moderate estimate to suppose that each will produce 
an annnal crop of 100 nuts. Every nnt shoald pro- 
dace half-a-poand of copra, or about 90 tons from 
the lot. Copra will realise not leas than £12 per 
ton f.o.b. on the ships taking away the cargo. The 
farmer would therefore get an aunnal retnro of 
£1,000 to pay tept to the Government and the cost 
of getting the copra. But this will not by any means 
exhaust the products to be obtained. The fibre has 
a very distinct market valae, while the pulp or 
dnst of the oooonut is daily becoming more nsed, 
for packing fruit, as a slug destroyer in gardens, 
and in many other ways, the whole of which are by 
no means generally known. I feel eon vi need that 
not only is there a good opening for the iodastry in 
the way I have stated, but that it will be found bo 
remunerative that others will follow it np. Not only 
the islands off the coast but the whole leogth of 
our coast line north of Kockhampton could contri- 
bute to the industry. It is frequently argued that we 
could not compete with the cheap labor of the South 
Sea and Africa and other places, but it must not be 
forgotten that we should also be competing with the 
moat primitive of method8,most idle of cultivators, and 
with th^ most rieky, and conseqaently, costly of enter- 
prises. With scientific appliances, with small risks, 
and with the indomitable industry and perseverance 
of the Anglo-Baxon race, there is not reasea that •« 
should not only euccesfulW compete with AfrieaDo and 
Polynesians, but also establish a new branch of ioduitry 
which if it does not fcupereede any of those industries 
already in vogue, at aoy rate show that we are uut 
so foolish as to neglect one of nature's best gifts.' 
It is stated that an invention of two JapaoeM 
Boiantisls for the production of fioe thread from the 
fibre of Nettle Hbmp ii attracting mueh attention la 
Mexico, in view of the fact that this plant grow* 
abundantly in different parts o> that eoantry. It is 
claimed that the new thread ii likely to snpersede to a 
great extent, the tiaeat thread made from silk. The 
nettle hemp, we are told, produces a thread three or 
fonr times as one made out of silk, and it is quite 
eqaal to the silk in point of lustre. Some o( the 
Mexican planters and mtnufaeturers have interested 
themselves in the invention, and are preparing to pat 
it into practical operation. 
CoKPBEssED FoRAQB (sayf the Queendatuter from 
Victoria has " caught on " in Ceylon, and aome 
orders have been received on the strength oi the 
samples lately exhibited by the Victorian trade 
commissioners at Colombo. These orders are only 
trial ones, bat if attention is paid to the material nsed 
there is no reason why a remunerative trade shoald 
not be developed. There is no customs duty on the 
compressed fodder in Ceylon. The process of com- 
pressing is the subject of a patent, but in view of 
the cheap and abundant fodder thtt ia unsaleable 
in Queeosland in good seasons we may expect that 
this colony will in the near fatare share in this 
bosiness. 
The eame paper, referring to Gbound-nutb. men- 
tions that a learned professor advocates the advanta- 
ges of peanuts as human food. He recommends that 
the nuts should be first roasted and then made 
icito porridge or soup. Hundreds of tons of peanuts ate 
consumed annually in the United States either raw, 
roasted, or in the form of "candy"; in fact, eating 
peanuts may be described as the principal recreative 
exercise of the American people. The west coast of 
Africa produces an enormous crop of peanuts, 
Marseilles alone using 10,000,000 buehe's a year, 
while many other millions of bushels go to London, 
Berlin, and other markets. This product is largely 
used in the manufacture of imitation chocolate and 
of peanut oil. Very large quantities are ground in 
India and Brazil, but find principally a home market. 
The nut flourishes in Queensland, but has not yet 
been turned to commercial use, although a fair quan- 
tity finds sale in the fruit shops for consumption 
chiefly by children. 
— . « 
TEA AND SCANDAL. 
REFLECriONS ON A. TEA-TABLE. 
Kuow ye the land where the hot toast and muffin 
Are emblems of deeds that are dona in their spheres ; 
Where scandalous st&ries and hints about muffin 
Now melt into whispers, now rise into sneers? 
Koow ye the land where the liquids and cake 
Their circumlocutions cousecuitive make ; 
Where Pompey's strong arms are oppressed with Pekoe, 
And the air waxes faint with the scent of the sloe ? 
Where malice produces its bitterest fruit. 
And the voice of detraction can never l)e mute; 
Where the tints of the story, the shades of the lie, 
In number tho' varied, in falsehood may vie. 
And the venom of scandal Is deepest in dye; 
Where virgins of fifty strange ringlets entwine. 
In the lond mi-conception of looking divine ? 
Tis the land of the teapot, the realm of the tray. 
Can we smile when we know what their votaries say? 
Oh ! false as the curls of the ancientest belle. 
Are the hearts which they bear, and the tales which 
they tell. — Punch, December 18*6. 
" The tables of the ancient gentry of this naton 
nece covered thrice a day with hot roasted-beef ; and 
