236 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. [Oct. 1 1899. 
while in some caies it might be due to a fungus, it was 
generally the work of the " Coliee-leaf Miner," Cemioi- 
toma eofeellum. An account of tliis will be found in the 
Kew Uulletin for 1894 (pp. 130-133). 
" Compiendense acaso bajo este nombro tambien 
otras manchaa de aspecto semejante, pero debidas a la 
vegetacion de un hongo, como se ha dicho mas arriba ; 
pero generalmente es la ' Mancha de hierro ' el resul- 
tado dc la preaencia de la larva de una pequena 
maripoaa noctnrna, que eu la zoologia lleva el nombre 
de Cemiostoma coffeellum, Stainton" (p. 17). 
This opinion is important aa ahowing that at the 
date (1878) when it was written the injury done by the 
fungus waa inconsiderable. 
What appears to be the same disease was the subject 
of a note in Nature by Dr. Ernst (July 29, 1880, p. 292). 
He says : — " There appear on the leaves small spots of 
a lightish green colour, which in two or three days turn 
brownish." Hence the name of " Iron stain." 
Dr. Cooke detected xipon these patches a fungus of 
an entirely different kind, which he described m 
Grevillea [vol. xi., p. 11] aa StMuin Jlavidum. He 
further discussed the whole sul jpct in the /oM)naZ o/ 
the Linnean Society {Botany, vol. xviii., pp. 461-467). 
Spegazzini has recently suggested the name of 
Pistillaria flavida for the fungus on the assumption 
that it belongs to the Basidiomycetes. This view is 
not, however, supported by a microscopic examination 
of authentic specimens. 
Of late years the ravages of the fungus have assumed 
more serious dimensions. It has proved very destruc- 
tive in coflee plantations in Costa Eica, Venezuela, 
New Gi'enada, and Guatemala ; it is also said to have 
occurred in some of the West Indian Islands. 
The Government of British Cen'ral Africa, apparent- 
ly under the impression that it is the leaf disease of 
Ceylon (Hemileia vastatrix), which it is not, haa 
" temporarily proclaimed " Guatemala and the Central 
American States generally " to be prohibited countries " 
for the importation of seeds and plants. 
A lengthy correspondence has taken place with the 
Foreign Office on the subject, of which the. following 
is the most material portion : — 
Mb. Consul General Jenner to Foreion Office. 
My Lord, Guatemala, February 7, 1899. 
With reference to your Lordship's despatch, No. 
14, commercial, of the 4th of November, I have the 
honour to enclose herewith copy of a despatch from 
Mr. Consul Harrison, enclosing a short report by Mr. 
H. Pittier on the diseases which have at different times 
appeared in the coffee plantations in Costa Rica. 
The samples of the dried leaves are being sent to 
your Lordship by parcels post. 
I have, &c., 
(Signed) G. J*nner. 
The Marquess of Salisbury, K.G. 
[Enclosure.] 
Report of Mr. Henri Pittier on the diseases which 
have at different times appeared in the coffee planta- 
tions of Costa Rica, 
During the existence of the Institute Fiaico Geogra- 
fico several coffee diseases were submitted for study to 
the botanical department. 
Firstly, the so-called " Maya,'- characterised by 
circular zones of dead tissues on the leaves, black 
rotten spots on the fruit, and by the subsequent 
falling off of both. The fungus which causes the 
destruction of the tissues has been identified indepen- 
dently by two specialists .• Messrs. Rolfs, of the 
Florida State Agricultural College, and Spegazzini, of 
the " Facultad de Agronomia" of La Plata, with the 
Stilbum Jfaj^yium, Cooke (Pistillaria flavida Spegazz.). 
Secondly, the " Hollin " or ' Fumagina," which 
appears as a kind of a soot covering the leaves of the 
coffee tree, and which is also a fungus (Capnodium 
trichostomum Sp&g&zz). ; but in this case the fungus is 
only a secondary symptom, as it grows on a honey- 
like exudation of an insect {Coccus, scale insect, mealy 
bug) which settles on the tree. 
Thirdly, several cases of distinct appearance, one due 
to the invasion of legions of caterpillars of a moth, the 
name of which I do not now remember, and other« 
which were ascribed to overcropping, to rot caused by 
imperfect drainage, or to the presence of foul wood in 
the soil. 
These last were all more or less localiaed and dis- 
appeared after a time, but the tvfo fi^rst are rather 
common in the neighbourhood of San Jose, where they 
reappear every year with a gradually more epidemic 
tendency, 
However, bo far they cannot be said to have assumed 
a very alarming character, and the majority of the 
planter.^ have not paid attention to them. 
Owing to the excessive draught I have not been able 
to find any trace of the fungus on the diseased leaves ; 
but these are sure to appear with the first raina in 
April and May, and if not too late for yon, I shall 
gladly endeavour to obtain some good samples for you. 
(Signed) H. Pittier. 
Mr. Consul Harrison to Royal Gardens, Kew. 
British Consulate, 
San Jose, Costa Rica, 
Sir, February 28, 1899. 
In accordance with a circular I received from 
Her Majesty's Minister in Central America, I sent Hia 
Excellency for despatch to the Royal Botanic Gardens, 
Kew, some pamphlets and notes on the diseases which 
have appeared in the coffee trees in this Republic. 
I also forwarded some samples of leaves affected by 
the disease which the Government obtained for me, 
I now under separate cover forward you direct some 
samples of diseased leaves, collected for me by Monsieur 
Pittier, and two photographs of trees effected. These 
trees have recovered, but in some instances look sickly. 
I send these direct as Monsieur Pittier tells me the 
less they travel the better, as the fungus is liable to 
be rubbed off. 
I have, 4o., 
(Signed) Percy C. Habkiiom. 
W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, C.M.G., F.R.S., 
Director, Royal Gardens, Kew. 
The leaves are most frequently attacked, and 
within a short time become dry and fall to the ground, 
so that the tree is soon completely denuded of folia«e. 
The growing berries also dry up and fall before 
maturity. New leaves are formed after some months 
of rest, usually to be again attacked in a similar 
manner, and after the consecutive loss of foliage for 
two or three years, the tree dies. 
Diseased leaves are at once known by the presence 
of one — or usually several — more or less circular 
pale green, then brown, and finally whitish patches, 
which extend quite through the substance, appearing 
equally marked on both sides of the leaf. Grouped 
on these bleached spots, on the upper surface of the 
leaf, are several clear yellow drum-stick-like bodies 
standing erect. Each of these bodies, which are only 
about one-twelfth of an inch high, is a perfect fungus, 
bearing myriads of reproductive bodies or conidia 
on its globose head. One or more similar circular 
bleached spots bearing fungi also often occur on the 
berries. 
On young twigs the bleached spots are elongated, 
varying from half to one inch in length. If the 
diseased patch completely girdles the twig, the 
portion above the wound dies. 
Preventive measures. — Those recommended for the 
arrest of brown tea blight would probably be effective 
in the present instance also. Cleanliness is of primary 
importance. It ia impossible for the disease to appear 
unless spores of the fungus are present in the 
neighbourhood, and the most effective means for 
reducing this possibility to a minimum is to collect 
and burn all diseased leaves and fruit that have 
fallen to the ground. Photographs received from 
Costa Rica showing coffee trees completely defoliated 
by the disease also show the fallen leaves lyini; 
in heaps under the trees. 
Diseased twigs should be removed, otherwise, should 
solerotia be formed, and the mycelium become peren- 
nial in the tissues, a yearly crop of conidia would be 
produced.— Bulletin. 
