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THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, February 16, 1858. 
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A NOTICE OF A MOULD ATTACKING- THE COFFEE PLANTATIONS IN CEYLON. 
By the Rev. M. J. Berkeley, King’s ClilFe, Wansford. 
We arc daily hearing of fresh instances of the extensive some closely allied group, which, though merely forming 
prevalence of blight and mildew, in various forms, in our small radiated black specks when dry, on the application of 
fields and gardens at home ; but it is curious that ot late year's moisture instantly swells and increases immensely in volume, 
intelligence lias arrived of similar visitations from countries of Mr. Gardner’s observation, that the fungus is always pre- 
quite a different temperature. A few days since, a letter dated ceded by an insect, is exactly in accordance with what often 
l’eradenia, July 9th, of the present year, was received from j takes place in similar affections here. Nothing is more com- 
Mr. Gardner, of Ceylon, to the following effect: “ I write in 
great haste merely to ask you to be kind enough to let me 
know at your earliest convenience, what species of fungus the 
inclosed is. It is at present overrunning the greater part of 
the Coffee estates in Ceylon. It is caused by a species ot 
‘ scale ’ or c bug,’ which first began to appear about five years 
ago ; and it is not till the c bug ’ has been on the trees for 
upwards of a year that the fungus makes its appearance.” 
The leaves are completely covered with a black sooty wash, 
and the trees must be in a sad plight; for not only are they 
smothered with the fungus, but they are weighed down with 
masses of gelatinous lichen belonging to the genus Gollcma, or 
mycelium densely interwoven, fertile threads short, 
Triposporium Gardneri , n. s 
spores elongated. 
The figure represents at a a portion magnified, in which it will he seen that the spores 
are sometimes elongated at the apex, and proliferous ; and at b one of the triple spores 
highly magnified. 
mon than for Orange trees, and other smooth-leaved exotics to 
suffer from some form of Eumago, which is in every instance, 
I believe, preceded by a coccus, except possibly where there has 
been an exusion of honey-dew, and it appears that the visita¬ 
tion which has been so serious in the Orange plantations of 
the Azores and Madeira has exhibited the same connection 
between the plant and the insect. 
There is great reason to believe that many of these plagues 
are, in the first instance, imported, and we know that some 
vegetable productions of foreign extraction and some insects 
also become peculiarly luxuriant and abundant in their new 
quarters—a fact which will account, in some instances, for the 
sudden rise of visitations which were before 
unknown. Dr. Morren has stated his con¬ 
viction that Botryiis infestans , of which 
so much has been heard of late years, is an 
importation, and the notion is at least worthy 
of consideration. There is a curious prejudice 
in the West Indies against all garden plants, 
and in the sugar plantations, if the pro¬ 
prietor leaves, the first step is always to 
destroy everything in the neighbouring 
garden, a custom which, though arising 
evidently from exaggerated fears, may not be 
altogether void of foundation in experience. 
Mr. Gardner supposed on a mere cursory 
inspection, that the fungus, as is the case in 
some other forms of Eumago, belonged to 
the genus Antennaria ; but this is not the 
case, the parasite really belonging to Corda’s 
curious genus Triposporium, a few threads 
of which have been found in similar cases of 
blight in England, but merely scattered 
amongst other moulds, so as not to enable 
me to ascertain whether the species is the 
same with that from Ceylon, which is, how¬ 
ever, quite distinct from the original species 
of* Cor da, which lias been found by Mr. 
Broome, on Oak chips near Bristol, and of 
which Corda lias given a splendid figure in 
his Fracht-Flora. I subjoin a sketch and 
specific characters of Mr. Gardner’s species. 
—(Horticultural Society's Journal.') 
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THE QUALITIES CONSTITUTING A GOOD 
POTATO. 
Many varieties of Potatoes, like new seedling Grapes, are 
being constantly brought before the public. No sooner does 
one variety get advertised and sold, than another, stated to 
possess far superior qualities, pops into the market. All seem 
anxious alike for these fine new varieties, even at the expense 
of discarding some well-known old favourite. Just so with the 
Potato—fresh-named, if not new varieties, are advertised weekly. 
We have no knowledge where they came from, or who was the 
fortunate raiser of these said varieties; in fact, we have no 
guarantee at all as to whether they are really genuine: and, 
should we be so unfortunate as to buy the same variety of 
Potato, under two or three different names, to whom are we to 
apply for redress ? Of course, we could not apply to the sales¬ 
man, for he would tell us, that he bought them for so-and-so ; 
but who the right raisers of these varieties are, it would puzzle 
a conjuror to find out. 
I must admit that it is not the case with new varieties of 
Grapes ; for we generally have the whole history given, with 
the raiser’s name and address, from what variety raised, where 
and when exhibited, with its good qualities, &c. 
This is precisely what we wish those who advertised new or 
fresh varieties of Potatoes to do. Such a method would show 
good faith, and protect us from buying so many duplicates. 
At present, it frequently happens when a person has a favourite 
variety of Potato, and does not know its name, that he 
christens it himself, and gives it away to his friends with this 
new name attached to it. Again, if he should tell his friends 1 
that he does not knotv the name, it is more than likely that 
they will call it by the giver’s name, such as “ Mr. So-and- 
So’s Kidney .” 
A miller in this part of the country had some fine Kidney 
Potatoes, of which he did not know the name; and when he ( 
distributed them, they were christened Miller's Kidney ; and 
this variety is a great favourite round our neighbourhood, 
but is no other than the old Midsummer Kidney. So, the ^ 
Champion Kidney is identical with the Albion. Yet, both have i 
different raiser’s names. 
There are, also, many varieties now in cultivation, that are j 
known only by their names : their origin was never made 
public. Many new varieties that have found their way into 
the market are entirely worthless ; and many old varieties of 1 
really good value have either been discarded for new ones, or j 
have been entirely lost through bad management or neglect. 
It is a well-known fact, that some varieties that are of first- 
rate quality when grown in some parts of the country, are 
entirely worthless when grown in other parts ; and, to this 
fact, we should all pay great attention. Eor instance, how 
