Browsing by Author "Gillett, S."
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Item Coffee Board of Kenya Monthly Bulletins March 1942(1942) Coffee Board of Kenya; Gillett, S.In Kenya, a physiologic form of leaf fall is so severe at certain periods of the year that a loss in vitality of the coffee bush results. In certain areas, this leaf fall would appear to be becoming more predominant, and to date, research carried out by the Coffee Services of the Department of Agriculture has failed to find an explanation for the phenomena. It has long been shown, however, that an application of Bordeaux mixture controls to a large extent the "fall" and results in substantially heavier annual yields of coffee being obtained. The effect of the spray is attributed to its "tonic effect,” which may, in turn, be due to a copper intake through the leaves, and not to any fungicidal action.Item The Effect of Growth Substances on the Stimulation of Root Growth in Cuttings of Coffea Arab(November, 1937) Gillett, S.; Jackson, T.H; Scott Agricultural Laboratories, Department of Agriculture, Kenya Colony,Previous attempts to root cuttings of Coffea arabica at the Scott Agricultural Laboratories, although not completely negative, have given a poor percentage of success. The first trial carried out in which cuttings were treated with Hortomone" A"(1 part in 320 parts of water) for a period of eighteen hours prior to planting in the propagator gave results sufficiently conclusive to prove that a definite initiation of root growth had been obtained. These results led to the laying down of an experiment which is described below.Item Observations on Coffee in Kenya Pt. Ii. Vegetative Propagation of Coffee(1935) Gillett, S.ONE of the first things noticed in any coffee plantation in Kenya is the extremely variable population. This is due to the heterogeneous nature of seedling material; even that from a 'selfed' tree shows marked variations. There are two methods by which this variation could be overcome, by breeding and by vegetative propagation. The breeding of pure lines of coffee seed is very slow and entails many years' work covering several generations; it is therefore unsatisfactory. In consequence, some three years ago, our attention was drawn to the second method. At that time much success was being obtained with the reproduction by asexual means of other tropical crops, and it was considered that it might also be applied to C. arabica. It is here proposed to deal with the work which has been conducted to date.Item Report on a Visit to Southern India and Java Part I.-The Coffee Industry of Southern India(1936) Gillett, S.; Agricultural Officer Kenya ColonyPlantation coffee. In S. India arábica coffee is grown at altitudes of 2, 500-6, 000 ft. with a rainfall of 50-170 ins. The sites are usually sheltered, steep slopes of semi-cleared jungle with a northerly or easterly aspect. Shade is retained because, although it reduces yield, it is a deterrent to leaf disease and borer. As a further deterrent to borer the trees are grown close together 6 ft. × 6 ft., and so produce a dense upper canopy, though losing most of their lower primaries and of course giving a lower yield. There is little pruning. Gormandiser (or sucker) growth is general, in fact 50% of one of the most renowned London marks is grown on gormandiser wood. In soil selection a rich jungle soil carrying a luxuriant vegetation is preferred. Shallowness is desirable so that the trees may have a reduced water supply during the dry months of January to March. This is supposed to increase yield. Coffee in S. India is almost entirely surface feeding, and to avoid root damage cultivation is reduced to a minimum. The author suggests that more use should be made of the envelope fork to incorporate the surface vegetable débris in the soil. The digging of 18 in. trenches in alternate rows and allowing them to fill up with fallen leaves, soil, etc., is a satisfactory method for S. India (but unsuitable for Kenya, where the author's coffee interests lie). These trenches check erosion and the organic matter they contain becomes filled with a mass of feeding roots from the coffee. Spraying with bordeaux against leaf disease is usual and effective. Research work. The research centre is the Mysore Coffee Experimental Farm at Balehonnur. Here it is emphasized that, though spraying with bordeaux will check 4 of the major pests and diseases, the time of application is of the utmost importance to success. Manurial trials in progress since 1926 have been almost barren of results, but data tend to show that sulfate of ammonia is the best of the nitrogenous manures and superphosphate of the phosphatic, while there is nothing to choose between sulfate and muriate of potash. Though experiment plot figures do not justify the application of fertilizers, the value of the latter is apparent when contrasting estates which do and do not use them. In estate practice a decline in yield may be expected after two years' discontinuance of fertilizing practices. Breeding work is concentrating on producing resistance to leaf disease combined with quality and much has already been achieved. Vegetative propagation is by cleft grafting, using waxed paraffin paper covers, from March to July (early S.W. monsoon) with 90% success, in other months with only 25% or less. Hardwood cuttings in the open have rooted to some extent, but subsequent growth has been poor. Green manurial trials are directed to finding a suitable cover for young coffee of sufficient height and density to reduce borer attack.Item Report on a Visit to Southern India and Java Part II.-The Coffee Industry of Java (N.E.I.) Conclusions and Recommendations(September,1936) Gillett, S.; Kenya ColonyPart II deals with planting and cultivation in general and with the measures for coffee improvement (including resistance to diseases and pests) adopted by the experiment stations, with an account of the Malang and Besoeki Experiment Stations and the co-operating sub-stations situated on numerous private estates. A concise account is given of the work done on selection, hybridization of Robusta coffee, grafting and resistance to shot-hole borers (Xyleborus species), Arábica improvement, the Conuga selections for intermediate altitudes and problems connected with the biology of flowering and fertility. Most of these problems have already been referred to in annual reports on research in Java which have already been reviewed in "Plant Breeding Abstracts". Finally the application of the methods used in Java and India to conditions in Kenya is discussed, and the great importance of co-operation between the planter and the experiment stations is stressed.Item Vegetative Propagation of Coffee(1935) Gillett, S.The reproduction of coffee by asexual methods has attracted attention in other countries, notably Java, for many years. Unforeseen difficulties have occurred, and although experimentation has been in progress for over fifty years, it cannot be claimed that the practical advantages of this method of reproduction have been fully appreciated until recent years. It is only to,day that some of the earlier prob, lems are being elucidated, and it is ob, vious that a large field of work lies ahead of the research worker before many of the practical difficulties are solved and definite recommendations can be made.
