235 
in every part of the world it would be indeed a sad awakening to 
find the contrary. . „ . ., , T . 
o In 1875 some trees of Libericin Coffee in its home, mbciiH, 
were affected by the Hemileia vastatrix . The effect was similar 
to what is described by Mr. Whitfield Smith. As regards the trees 
here no extensive injury was experienced nor have I heard since 
of any loss from the like cause. 
4. May I invite reference on this important matter to the 
Director Royal rens, Kew, 
I have, &c., 
ALFRED MOLONEY, 
Governor. 
The Right Hon ble 
Joseph Chamberlain, M. P. 
' TO 
Extract from a Letter from Mr. G. Whitfield Smith 
to the Governor, dated 24TH November, 1897. 
I also forward some diseased Liberian Coffee leaves. As \ our 
Excellency will observe, these are attacked by a scale insect. 
When I first noticed it, some months ago, it was very scattered 
and seemed to do little harm, but of late it has spiead rapidly, 
and now seriously affects the health of the trees. It occurs on 
plants growing in the open as well as on those undei shade and 
the trees attacked gradually lose their branches. ,, . 
Hitherto Liberian Coffee has been consideied pi oof against 
insect pests, and I thought your Excellency would like to know 
of this especially as there is a chance of the disease becoming a 
serious evil if it finds a suitable object of attack in the Liberian 
^°^ ee ' Royal Gardens, Kew, 
January 12, 1898. 
Sm —I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your 
letter of December 30, 27379 - 97 , enclosing copy of a despatch 
from the Governor of the Windward Islands with specimens of 
diseased leaves of Liberian Coffee. 
2. On examination here it was found hat these leaves ex- 
hibited no trace of “Coffee-leaf disease [Hemileia vastatrix) or 
° f ^^obte/veM^ that in the 3rd paragraph of his despatch Sir 
Alfred Moloney makes the following statement: In 1 75 
some trees of Liberian Coffee in its home — Liberia— were affected 
by the Hemileia vastatrix. The effect was similar to what is de- 
scribed by Mr. Whitfield Smith, i.e., apparen y 0 exl1 
bited by the diseased leaves accompanying the despatch 
4. As the matter is of great importance I may say ’ at once 
that the effect is not in the least similar. T he c °ff ee-leaf disease 
is a fungus which speedily destroys the tissues o 
