PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O.882
2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
vation of this invaluable plant. Its growth is so excessively slow here that I see no prospect of being able to recommend it as a profitable cultivation in a commercial point of
view.
Caoutchouc -In obedience to a suggestion from the Home Government, I am about to institute experiments with Assam caoutchouc-producing tree (Ficus elastica), which grows exceedingly well in Ceylon. Seedlings are being raised for the purpose of making a small plantation of this tree, with the object of ascertaining whether or not it can be cultivated with profit here, and what system of cultivation would be most likely to succeed.
Fodder-grass.I am distributing seeds of the Paspalum, mentioned in my last Report as likely to prove valuable feeding for horses and cattle. The correct name of this grass I have ascertained to be Paspalum conjugatum, and not P. distichum; as I supposed, unless both names belong to the plant.
Useful and ornamental trees and shrubs have been sent out in large number from the gardens during the past year, and the distribution of seeds of various kinds has been considerable. Supplies are carefully kept up to meet probable demands for the above.
As usual, there has been a frequent interchange of plants and seeds between this and other similar establishments in various parts of the world. Many valuable additions have been made to our collections in contributions from the following:--
The Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew, Calcutta, Mauritius, and Buitenzorg;
The Imperial Botanic Garden of St. Petersburg;
The Government Gardens of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane ;
The Acclimatisation Society of Queensland;
The Madras Government Farm;
Colonel Beddome, Inspector of Forests of the Madras Presidency;
Dr. Hance, Her Majesty's Vice-Consul at Whampoa ;
M. Thozet, Rockhampton, North Australia ;
R. Jaimie, Esq., Singapore;
W. Bull, Esq., Chelsea;
Messrs. Haage, and Schmidt, Erfurt;
And several official and other gentlemen residing in the island.
An exceedingly valuable and interesting collection of dried specimens of plants from Japan, Brazil, and some of the Russian Provinces, has been received from the Imperial Botanic Garden of St. Petersburg.
have to express my To my highly valued friends, Messrs. Berkeley and Broome, most sincere thanks for describing the fungi of Ceylon. The descriptions of nearly 1,200 species are published in the proceedings of the Linnean Society of London. The greater number of these species were sent from this establishment, and collected by its officers.
Owing to the misapprehension which still largely exists as to the real nature of the coffee-leaf disease (Hemileia vastatriz), and the erroneous views and wild conjectures propagated respecting it, I feel that it is desirable I should again offer some observations on the subject. The disease consists in the parasitic growth within the coffee tree of a well-defined species of fungus, originated and reproduced by means of spores, easily identified by employment of the microscope, and thus readily distinguishable from every other known fungus. There can be no question that this fungus is communicated from coffee plant to coffee plant through dissemination of its spores, and that these may be conveyed by the wind, or by streams of water, or by animals of any kind moving from place to place. The fungus has only yet been detected, in a definitely organised form, in the cellular tissue of the coffee leaf lying immediately under the diseased spots, in the spores themselves, and in the filaments produced by the germinating spores. The fungus would appear, however, to be present in the growing tissues generally of the coffee plant in a diffused form, altering the character of the cell-contents, and thus producing the stains observable on the bark of the young branches, and the pale some- what translucent spots to be seen in the leaves previously to the outbreak of the orange- coloured
spores.
Investigations with the microscope with reference to the germination of the fungus spores have been made by my friend the Rev. R. Abbay, and by myself. The process has been observed by both of us. Mature spores removed from a diseased coffee leaf and laid upon charcoal kept constantly moist, commence to germinate in a few days. The germination consists in the spore becoming somewhat enlarged and its contents converted into one or more globular translucent masses. From each of the latter a filament At the is developed, which grows very rapidly and becomes more or less branched. termination of some of those branches secondary spores are produced in the form of
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radiating necklace-shaped strings of little spherical bodies of uniform size, and this form closely resembles the fructification of au Aspergillus. Mr. Abbay has also observed another form of secondary spores arranged in single rows of spherical bodies, a good deal larger than those radiately arranged, but still exceedingly minute. These inconceivably numerous secondary spores may be easily carried by the wind into surrounding districts, and thus convey infection to distant plantations. In what way the coffee tree receives the infection remains to be ascertained, and from the subtlety of the operation, this will have to be inferred, rather than discovered by direct observation of the process. It would seem most probable that the infecting matter contained in the spore is absorbed by the tender rootlets of the coffee tree, though it is possible to conceive it might also be introduced into the tree through the very young foliage.
The effect of the fungus upon the coffee tree would seem to be the gradual loss of vital energy. The tree, after the first attack of the disease, which is often apparently the most severe, throws out fresh healthy looking leaves and exhibits for a certain period the appearance of having perfectly recovered. These fresh leaves, however, after the expiration of a few months, exhibit the characteristic spotting, and, as on the previous attack, fall prematurely. These repeated attacks occurring periodically, at length seriously affect the health of the tree, which, if old and ill-cultivated, becomes of little or no value as a crop- producer.
There is great reason to believe, however, from what has been observed, that high cultivation, with judicious manuring, enables the tree to better sustain the attacks of the fungus, and to retain strength and vigour enough to produce a fair yield of berry. It is indeed ardently to be hoped that this beneficial effect will be permanent.
Whether each outburst of the disease implies a fresh introduction of the parasite into the coffee plant, or merely a periodical spore production of a permanent parasitism, remains to be discovered.
it Upon a careful inspection of the spots of orange-coloured spores,
be observed that on most of them a minute red maggot is feeding on the spores. Sometimes these little maggots are very numerous, and it could be wished they were still more so, and that thas the fungus spores might be altogether consumed, and the propagation of this terrible pest arrested.
may
Some persons would seem to be under the impression that in course of time the leaf disease will wear itself out and entirely disappear, but it is difficult to see how this can happen whilst coffee trees remain for it to subsist upon. It is just possible to imagine some subtle destructive agency operating, in addition to the more obvious action of the little maggot, to arrest the development of the fungus, but there is nothing to support such a view at present.
The whole expenditure for the Pérádeniya and Hakgala Gardens during the year 1873 was 20,374 rupees 32 annas.
The receipts during the same period were 7,742 rupees 29 annas; viz., at Pérádeniya, 2,800 rupees 68 annas; and at Hakgala, 4,941 rupees 61 annas.
(Signed) G. H. K. THWAITES, Director. Royal Botanic Garden, Pérádeniya, March 28, 1874.
Sir,
No. 2.
Colonial Office to Dr. Hooker.
Downing Street, July 30, 1874. I AM directed by the Earl of Carnarvon to transmit to you a copy of a despatch from the Officer administering the Government of Ceylon, forwarding & Report from the Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens in that Island, and I am to request that you will favour his Lordship with any observations you may be able to offer respecting the leaf disease (Hemileia vastatrix) which is attacking the coffee plant in Ceylon, and on the suggestion that information should be obtained from Her Majesty's Consuls.
I am, &c.
R. H. MEADE,
• No. 1.
(Signed)
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No. 3.