July 1, 1S99.] 
THE TEOPICAL AGEICULTUPJST. 
6 
TEA PESTS AND BLIGHTS. 
(Being Chapter X. of Dr. Geo. Watts' large Book.*) 
As a matter of convenience I have accepted 
the word " Pest" to denote Insect and other Animal 
Enemies, and the word "Blight" to refer to Fangal 
and other vegetable Parasites of the Tea Plant. 
While convenient the restrictions indicated for these 
words are of course open to criticism. 
In the preceding chapters I have endeavoured 
to represent certain aspects of the cultivation of the 
plant that seem to me to call for more careful investi- 
gation, with a view to reforms. To my mind there 
exists sufficient presumptive evidence to justify the 
opinion that certain misapprehensions and defective 
methods of procedure have originated constitutional 
weaknesses that may be said to constantly predispose 
the plant to actual disease. In other words to render the 
depredations of its enemies and parasites more alaim- 
ing than they might be otherwise. I have, therefore, 
advocated that such reforms as may be found desirable 
and practicable, should necessarjly accompany more 
specific efforts to battle with the pesls and blights. 
In the foregoing remarks, at one or two places, 
I have already pointed out that the brief term of my 
explorations and the facilities of observation and 
investigation afforded, do not justify any attempt 
being made to deal with the pests and blights in a 
strictly scientific manner. It may be remarked that 
there are perhaps a dozen enemies of serious moment. 
The others, while occasionally doing considerable 
injury, are, nevertheless, of a local and accidental 
character. To solve the life histories of the dozen 
serious pests and blights, might take several years' 
patient study. To discover means of dealing with 
them would occupy much time and necessitate 
detailed and elaborate experiments. 
Sources of Information and Assistance. 
In presenting the observations which I now 
propose to offer, it may be as well to explain the chief 
sources of information and assistance which have 
been drawn upon in the study of the pests and 
blights of the tea plant :— 
Isf. — The Journals and Proceedings of the Agri- 
Horticultural Society of India, more especially from 
1865 CO 18S5— the period of greatest interest by the 
Society in the subject of Tea Pests. 
3nd. — Special publications on the India Tea In- 
dustry, including the annual Eeports of the Indian 
Tea Association from 1882 to 1896. 
8rd. — Newspaper correspondence from 1873 to 
present date, more especially the letters which ap- 
peared originally in the Tea Gazette, but which may 
now be conveniently consulted in the a Ci/<'lopp:dia 
and the Tea Flantci-'s Vade Jlccum. I have only inci- 
dentally referred to Ceylon newspapers for informa- 
tion, but the I'ropical Agricidtui ist has been found 
<f great value in confirming or correcting information 
regarding India. 
itli. — The Indian Muscitm Notes, more especially 
Mr. E.C Cotes' Account (»} Vol. III.) oi the Insects 
and Mites tohich attack the Tea TIant in Indii. 
5th.— The invaluable aid of Mr. W. T. Thiselton 
Dyer, Director of Kew Gardens, Loudon, and of Mr. 
George Masseb, Oryptogamio Botanist to the Her- 
- barium of Kew, for two reports on certain fungal 
blights collected by me. Through the kindness of the 
Director General, Medical Department, I have been 
favoured with a proof copy of Dr. D. D. Cunninoha.m's 
forthcoming paper " On Certain Diseases of Fungal 
and Algal origin affecting Economic Plants in India ;" 
in that paper threo of the diseases of the tea plant 
have been dealt with and consequently drawn upon 
\ery laigely by me. 
The liberal assistance of Sir George King and of 
Dr, D. PiiAiN of the Botanical Gardens, Calcutta, for 
helping me with the determination of the plants 
collected during my tour in Assam. This every now 
and again has been of value in connection with the 
* We republish this by request, because Dr, Watte' 
Ifiook IB out of print.— Ed. T.A, 
present report as, for example, in giving the names of 
the plants on which certain tea blights were found 
in the jungles. 
The very great assistance, most generously af- 
forded, byMr.E. E. Green, the distinguished Entomo- 
logist of Ceyion, who has for many years identified 
himself with the study of the tea pests, and has in 
consequence discovered and investigated the life 
histories of a large number of very obscure species. 
Mr. Gbeen has not only examined and reported on 
a complete series of the insect pests collected by me, 
but has in return presented a most valuable set of 
the pests collected by him in Ceylon. As types of 
the species he has named these have proved invaluable. 
Similarly lam much indebted to Dr. A. II. S. Ander- 
son, Oihoiating Superiuteodent of the Indian Museum, 
for having examined the doubtful specimens referred 
by me to the Museum for determination, and to 
Mr. Edward Barlow, the Assistant in charge of the 
Entomological (JoUectisns of the Indian Museum, for 
having very kindly worked with me during the time 
which I spent in comparing my specimens' with the 
Museum sets. 
67/;.— But a debt of gratitude is more especially due 
to the large circle of planters whom it was my good 
fortune to meet during my tours, and from whom I 
obtained much valuable assistance. Adned to all 
these sources of information I may mention the filea 
of correspondence of the office of JReporter on Econo- 
mic Products which have been freely drawn upon, and 
lastly, the results of my own personal explorations. ' 
The account to be given below, therefore of 
each species of pest or blight will be made, as far as 
possible, to embrace the entire available information. 
Stress will be laid on the effort to trace oat the locality 
and date of first appearance, of each of the more 
important enemies of the tea plant, from the belief 
that particulars of that nature may very possibly be 
found of value in future investigations. I am fully 
conscious, however, that defects will be discovered, and 
can only hope that the present review of information 
may stimulate greater attention being given, more 
especially through the planters themselves ' once 
more, making the technical journals of the day the 
channels of recording their observations and opinions. 
The apathy that has existed, for the past score of 
years, in the matter of exchanging ideas, Inrgely 
accounts, I am afraid, for the want of i^rogess. In- 
terest may be said to have been first prominently 
aroused in the subject of pests and blights by the lata 
Mr. S. E. Peal's paper on " Mosquito," or, as he 
loved to called it, the " Tea Bug." Prior to the ap- 
pearance of Mr. Peal paper it had been vaguely 
designated " Blight, ' and was viewed as a myste'i-ious 
visitation. Mr. Peal's showed that it was caused by 
an insect. Immediately there arose the enquiry as to 
methods of extermination. Eiom that date one dis- 
covery after another followed quickly, until for twenty 
years or thereby the Journals of the Agn-Uoiticul- 
tural Societii and the public newspapers of i alcutta 
teemed with letters and detailed reports on the peats 
and blights of the tea pUnt. Gradually, however 
the subject seems to have lost interest, perhaps' 
through the discovery of new methods of cultivatioa 
and manufacture, that gxve handsome returns in spite 
of the ravages of these enemies of the industry. Left 
thus to themselves they have multiplied and extended 
until attention has been forced once more to the ques- 
tion, which twenty years ago was discussed and 
pigeon-holed, by those most interested, viz., tha 
desirability of securing scientific assistance,* 
In presenting this compilation of ' available 
information I may as well explain that I shall deal 
jirst with the Pests, and next with the Blights. Under 
Pests (Insects) I shall, as far as possible, follow tha 
classification and the scientific determinations given 
in Mr. Cotes' Insects and Mites v:hich attack the Tea 
* See Proposed Scheme, Journ. Agri-Horti. Soc 
Ind., Vol. V. N. s. Proc, 24th Aug. 1876 ; 23rd Nov • 
2l3t Dec; 19th April 1877; 23rd Aug.; Vol VI 
Proc, 18th Dec. 1879; Scheme Abandoned, 22nd JuJv 
1880. ' 
