August i, 1890.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
109 
^he bacterise theory have attempted to destroy these 
insects by soaking the shoots in a solution of sulphate of 
copper or sublimate, which has so far met with little or 
no success. 
On the other hand, the supporters of the worm theory 
have attempted to kill these parasites in the ground by 
means of sour sugar syrup, or the so-called Trisulfure de 
Carbone of Rohart, which latter treatment has given 
so far hopes of good success. In the absence, 
however, of any actual remedy for the disease, large 
quantities of cane cuttings from healthy canes are im- 
ported from places where the disease has not made its 
appearance. 
This measure is naturally a very costly one, and in the 
residency of Djockdjokarta alone fl.500,000 were spent 
in this manner in 1889; this is, in the meantime, the 
only course to be adopted, although it is now very 
difficult to find grounds which have shown no traces 
of the disease. In the last few years a l"rge extent 
of grounds has been planted out in Borneo in the 
hope that this oane would prove impervious to the 
disease; hut this hope proved illusory, as germS 
of the disease appeared on the freshlv-improved cut- 
tings, whilst cuttings obtained from this cane, after 
planting in Java, gave 50 per cent, diseased plants. 
Attempts to obtain healthy cane from the Straits 
were equally unsuccessful, as the “sereh”has also 
appeared there, whilst traces of other disease were 
also found in these canes, and imports from this 
district were accordingly strongly discouraged. At 
present planters are growing canes in the hilly dis- 
tricts of Java in order to get cuttings, and the results 
obtained from this cane are encour>ging. 
Should bacteriffi, however, be the c.anse of the 
disease, it is feared that no remedy will be found, 
and that the disease will have to run its eonrse just as 
any other epidemic, until it gradually dies out and dis- 
appears. If, on the other hand, it is caused by the pre- 
sence of the worm in the roots, the experiments alreadv 
made go to show that there is some hope of successfully 
combating the disease. At present, it may he said that 
the disease is decreasimr in the districts where it first 
made its appearance, of which proof is given by the 
increased sugar production in the westward districts. 
In the latter half of .Tannary a meeting of planters 
and merchants interested in the sugar industrv was held 
at Samarang in order to frame measures to be taken 
against the “sereh ” disease, and to disciisK matters of 
general interest. This Congress afforded planters an 
opportunity of exchanging their views, but so far no 
unanimous course of action has been resolved on. A 
plan was formed to obtain the services of a specialist 
from Europe to investigate the causes and means of 
combating the “sereh” disease, but owing to the 
necessarv funds not being forthcoming it proved im- 
practicable to carry out this pro.ject. 
Coffee. — The leaf disease, referred to in my previous 
reports, continues to prevail in middle Java. More 
encouraging reports are circulated regarding the course 
run by the disease in the east end of the island, where it 
IS averred that, except in a few of the o'd low-lying 
plantations, the disease has disappeared. The Govern- 
emounted to 583,458, against 564,586 piculs 
in 1 888, and 254,058 piculs in 1887. Heavy rains and 
strong winds have caused much damage to the coming 
crop, which it is estimated will not exceed 400,000 piculs 
Government and private together, and in some quarters 
it IS doubted whether this figure will even be reacPed. 
Kice. Want of rain in the beginning of the year 
‘eriously interfered with sowing, and affected the out- 
turn of the crop. Atone moment fears of a famine in 
eome districts were entertained, and several small lots 
of toroign rice wero imported by Chinese flrm.s. Pr’ces 
ni Oil bicb do-ing the year. Prospects for the coming 
cropa t,ro favourable. 
Tonicco Crop b.as been a full one, espec'allv as 
regar 's scrubs, for which description higher prices have 
hi" M obtained than usoal. 
t OPHii. — The development in the production of this 
ar lele had the . ffeef of driving np the price of coconut 
"i ■ as a result of which less copra was brought to 
Cocoa has been planted on a small scale in some of 
the mountain distriots, and tho yield of the trees, 
though small, was satisfactory as regards quality. The 
plantations are being extended in Mid 'le .Java, but it is 
still doubtful whether the en'tivation will assume large 
proportions, as the plant onlv thrives on a very few 
estates, 135 hales, weight unknown, were shipped from 
Sourahnva, and nearlv 40 tons found their way to 
Rarnsrang. of which about 4 tons found their way to 
Singapore, and the balance shipped to Holland. The 
export from this port was unimnortant. 
Cinchona. — An increase of 642 tons in the exporta 
of this article c»n he reowted. the figures being for 1888 
1,990 tons, for 1889 2.632 tons. Owing to low prices 
ruling s.t home results have not been satisfactory. — 
Li rtWr? 0. Express. 
A GRAND MANGO SEASON. 
It is a wonderful season for mangoes. They Wer^ 
selling at Galagedara the other day at eight cents a 
hundred, and of a good edible kind, and later on when 
they were said to be goino’ out, I bought them at 
Teldeniya at 12J cente tho hundred. The natives 
usually couple a good fruit with a sickly season, and 
it is true in the present year but strange to sav the 
sickness preceded the coming in of the fruit. — Cor. 
REMARKS ON THE STATE OP BOTANY 
IN CEYLON. 
WITH REFERENCE TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF IT IN APRIL 
1843, AND AN ATTEMPT AT ARRANGING ITS FLOP.A AS 
KNOWN TO MOON AND RESIDENT BOTANISTS ACCORD- 
ING TO LOCAT.ITY AND ELEVATION, COMMONLY CALLED 
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OP A FLORA. 
By Captain Champion, 95th Regt. 
(GEOGRAPHICAL DIVISION OP PLANTS IN 
CEYLON. 
{Continued from page 61.) 
From this Table 2. it will be seen that various 
fruit trees of the tropics thrive on the coast which 
are less abundant or altogether disappear in the 
Kandyan Country. The Palm trees are also for the 
most part diSerent. Coconuts thrive in the greatest 
perfection and become the leading feature of the 
Coast : sufficiently numerous to form topes : there 
are a considerable variety of the Coconut-palm — they 
have been mentioned by Bennett and other writers. 
The features of the jungle present but little change 
for the extent of table land running sixteen miles 
into the interior, when the country changes and be- 
comes hilly and we are gradually brought into scenery 
the component parts of which are mentioned in 
Table 3. It seems to bo similar in its Flora to 
that of the Circar Hills in India — Of indigenous fruits 
of any value, there are few ; but the fruits of China 
and the Archipelago and many vegetables are culti- 
vated with success. The stranger will be struck with 
the Talipot tree and want of the Coconut, except 
near villages and also with the Aleurites or Kiekunft, 
the foliage of which has the peculiarity of appearing 
white after rain amongst other jungle trees. Its nut 
is much used for exoressing lamp oil by the natives. 
Two species of Bramble will also be hailed as an 
approach to a colder climate, most of the plants 
and trees in this table will be found on the under 
features of the hills on tho hanks of the Mahavilla- 
ganga, whilst on approaching the higher hills, some 
of which are mountains 4000 to 5000 feet above the 
level e? the sea. we enme to a fevest vegetation, the 
details of wl.ich are in Table 4. Trees are no longer 
in those heights festooned by Convolvuli and Ipo- 
mcoas and Lorantie are less numerous; but their place 
is supplied by many a lovely air plants and the mag- 
