234 
The still is worked by steam distillation, no water being add- 
ed to the grass. An acre of grass produces in the summer time 
36 to 44 oz., the winter harvest producing only one-fourth of 
this. The price in October for the oil was 11 \d. per Ife. in Lon- 
don. Mr. Fritzsche, of Messrs. Schimmel & Co., who supplies 
this report, states that the cost of production in Ceylon does not 
amount to more than 1 cent per oz,, and Messrs. Schimmel men- 
tion that a Citronella oil of exceedingly fine quality is now dis- 
tilled in the Straits Settlements but there is little of it and Java 
is also embarking on the enterprise. 
COFFEA STENOPHYLLA. 
In the proceedings of the Agri-Horticultural Society oi 
Madras for July, 1897, p. 118, are some reports on this plant by 
three experimenters in different parts of Madras. All agree 
that their trees are quite healthy and free from leaf-disease. 
At Calicut and Wynaad the trees are reported to have done well 
in the matter of growth, but the crop produced is remarkably 
small. At Yercand, however, at an altitude of 4,300 feet, the 
growth has been remarkably slow, although the trees were very 
liberally manured. In Singapore one cannot find any fault 
with the rapidity of growth, and, judging from all observations, 
it would appear to be best suited for the low country. Its crop- 
ping, however, is decidedly poor. Unfortunately there is no suit- 
able ground for Coffee of any kind in the Economic Gardens here, 
and it remains to be seen whether it will do better in richer soil, 
say in Selangor. The fruit too is very small, averaging a smaller 
size than Arabian. It is hoped to give it a thorough trial in the 
Native States, and should it be induced to crop sufficiently 
heavily, we should then be in possession of a plant resembling 
Arabian Coffee in the flavour of its seed, but possessing the 
advantages of freedoip from disease and suitability for lowland 
cultivation. 
COFFEE BLIGHT. 
The following correspondence has been transmitted through 
the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and as it may be interest- 
ing to Coffee planters is printed here:— 
Grenada, 
December 4, 1897. 
Sir, — I have the honour to transmit an extract from a letter I 
received on the 25th ultimo from Mr. G. Whitfield of this Colony, 
on the subject of the injury done here to Liberian Coffee by a 
scale insect, some of which on diseased leaves I enclose for ex- 
amination and report. I am collecting specimens of this insect 
in all its stages for identification. 
2. Heretofore Liberian Coffee has been looked upon as proof 
against any blight or insect attack. In view of its wide culture 
