The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1888-06-04

VlrJuOuS cOucD, where DeIOrc NOR
pheus claimed my senses, / lay and
gazed on vacancy, completely alb
sorbed in meditation, and contem-
plation, marveling at the exhilerat-
ing effect, of this wonderous bcver-
age, hector of the gods.
To you, my dear BULLETIN, 1 need
not explain, but to those, who think
the above an exaggeration, 1 have
only to remind them that the moon
Is full, or nearly so, and when in
that condition, is said to have an
effect, funny, and curious, on the
mental organization of some folks.
Hemelia Vastatrix, (coffee leaf
disease). Having briefly outlined
the History of bug, or blight, on the
coffee plantations Of Ceylon, shall
now describe leaf disease, which is
entirely different to blight and should
never be mistaken for it. Coffee
leaf disease is peculiar to the coffee
shrub, at least, have never heard
of it attacking any other bush, tree,
or plant of any kind whatever. 1t
is microscopic fungus, and makes
its appearance on the under side of
the leaf only. AT first it is no larger
than a pin spot, but in the course of
few months increases in size, until
it will cover surface of about
quarter of an inch square. There
may be all the way from one to five
or six of these spots on one leaf.
To the naked eye it presents a rusty
red, or yellowish appearance, and
can be rubbed off easily. Its visi-
tations are annual, and progresses
and developes as the crop on the
tree ripens. When the crop is about
half ripened the disease is fully
matured. The effect is peculiar. 1t
seems to have the property of alb
sorbing the vital energies of the
leaves, which become weakened and
ultimately fall to the ground. The
consequence is the tree has to re-
produce new foliage, and ripen its
crop at the same time; this it cannot
do, and the crop or large portion
of it, accordingly falls to the ground.
In the course of few months, the
coffee shrub is again reclothed with
a new foliage, has thrown out fresh
array of young wood, and to all APP
pearance has completely shaken of
the pest. This, however, is not the
case, for shortly after the blossom is
nicely set, and the young berries be.
gin to assume form and size, the
fungus reappears, developes with it:
customary virulence, and repeats
itself.
A letter was addressed to The
President'of the planters Association
last year, in which the writer drew
especial attention to the fact, tina
there was a total absence of coffe
leaf disease on these Islands, ant
urged them at their meeting tn
necessity of passing resolution, i
manner to draw the attention G
His Excellency the Minister Of tn
Interior to the fact.
These Islands are entirely isolate
from any other country, and it
easy to keep them free from contain
nation. The only way in which th
pest can be brought here, is b,
bringing live plants. Some may al
ready be on the way, sent for b,
some enterprising person, with
view to change seed. Such plant
ought all to be destroyed befor
landing.
Many eminent scientists, who's
speciality was cryptogomy, were en-
gagged to investigate the nature an
cause of leaf disease. We no,
know all about its nature and opel
atoms, but all cures that have bee
hitherto tired are alike chimerica
and impracticable. We have onl,
to wait and see if it will wear itsel
out in the same mysterious way tina
other pests have been known to dc
| In late number of the "Planter'
Monthly" will be found an articl
entitled "my experiment witt
coffee" written by E. Bailey, ESQ
We heartily thank Mr.. Bailey for hi
information, and hope others, eS
perienced in coffee on these Islands
will follow suit. He says, 81 some
times gathered 10 pounds of goo
cleaned coffee, from one tree, but
was only in few cases that the
produced so much. / think l ha
only about 30 trees, but the
produced about 200 lbs. a yeal
In 1858, l made a visit to m
native land, and almost the word
received from the Islands, was thi
my coffee trees were all dead, etc
etc."
In regard to the amount of goo
clean coffee, returned annually, "
should be tempted to doubt its Co
rectness, were the source of inform
elton not known to be thorough
reliable.
Leaving the occasional 10 lbs. pr
tree out of the question we find M
Bailey's trees produced him, a
average of 81 lbs. per annum, {
clean good coffee beans. This r
turn is enormous, and far exceed
anything we have ever heard o
The trees continued bearing TOT
from the time they were first plante,
allowing three years for develop
ment, until they were lS years
| ape. LIN the natural course of Il