1 Szpr., 1898. ] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 219 
LIBERIAN COFFEE AND INSECT PESTS. 
Lrpertan coffee has usually been considered as proof against any blight 
or insect attack. But by a report from His Pxcellency the Governor of the 
Windward Islands, we learn that injury has been done to this coffee by a 
scale insect. His Excellency says that in 1875 some trees were affected by 
Hemileia vastatriz in Liberia. 
On this subject, the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, says :—“ Sir,—I 
have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of December 30th 
(2739/97), 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 that these leaves exhibited no trace of ‘ coffee-leaf disease’ 
(Hemileia vastatrix) or of any other fungus. 3. I observe that in the third 
paragraph of his despatch Sir Alfred Moloney makes the following statement: 
—“Tn 1875 some trees of Liberian coffee, in its home, Liberia, were affected 
by the Hemileia vastatrix. The effect was similar to what is described by Mr. 
Whitfield Smith’’—7.e., apparently to that exhibited 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. The colfee-leaf disease 
is ‘a fungus which speedily destroys the tissues of the leaf and causes it to fall 
rematurely. The Grenada Liberian coffee, on the other hand, as Mr. 
Whitfield Smith correctly states, is “ attacked by a scale insect.” Asa matter 
of fact, two distinct kinds have been detected :—(1) The Circular Scale 
(Aspidiotus articulatus), which is also found on the West Coast of Africa 
(Lagos); (2) the Long Narrow Scale, chiefly on the ribs of the leaves, 
(Ischnaspia filiformis), which is very common in the West Indies and is also 
found in England. 5. These scale insects, though no doubt injurious, are not 
to be compared for a moment as a source of danger to coffee cultivation to the 
coftee-leat disease. You are aware that the progress and distribution throughout 
the world of this scourge to coffee cultivation has been watched by Kew with 
assiduous care. Originating about 1869 in Ceylon, it spread to the Malayan 
Archipelago in 1876, to Fiji in 1879, to Mauritius in 1881, to Natal in 1884 
(Kew Bulletin, 1893, p. 862), and to German East Africa in 1894. But, as I 
stated in my letter of 16th December, 1896, it is not known to exist in the 
West Africa colonies. Added to this, Liberian cotfee is found to be only 
moderately affected by it. I cannot but think, therefore, that all probability 
is opposed to the correctness of Sir Alfred Moloney’s statement that the 
disease existed in Liberia in 1875, as Eastern Africa was not affected till 
nearly ten years later. I should be glad to know on what precise evidence Sir 
Alfred Moloney bases it. If true, it seals the fate of coffee cultivation on the 
West Coast, and seriously imperils that in the new world. 6.1 enclose a 
memorandum of the most approved method of treatment for dealing with scale 
insects. 7. A honorarium of one guinea (41 1s.) is due to Mr. W. FE. Blandford 
(whose address is 48, Wimpole street W.) for his assistance in the matter.—I 
am, &c., W. ‘I. Tersevron Dyer.” 
MIXTURE FOR DESTROYING SCALE INSECTS. 
Heat milk nearly to boiling point and mix with double the quantity of 
kerosene; stir briskly until a thick creamy liquid is obtained. Dilute with 
ten times the quantity of water. Spray or apply with a brush, keeping the 
mixture constantly stirred. 
Sour imilk is as efficient as fresh. 
If milk cannot be obtained, or if the mixture is required in large quantity, 
a strong soap emulsion may be used in its place. 
COPY OF MINUTE BY THE DIRECTOR OF GARDENS, SINGAPORE, 
Hon. Colonial Secretary. 
The scale insect is by no means rare here on Liberian coffee. It is 
usually a sign of weakness of the plant from want of nourishment. Liberian 
coffee is liable to a great many kinds of insect and fungus pests. —H.N.R. 
—Selangor Government Gazette. 
