THE EXTERMINATION OF PESTS 115 



as an expert points out, few are attacked by so small 

 a number of insects as the coconut palm, although 

 the destructive capacity of these is considerable. 

 On the other hand, most of the pests that do occur 

 can be either eliminated or their operations ren- 

 dered ineffective by careful cultivation, the con- 

 stant watching of the trees and the application of 

 certain well-known insecticides, which can always 

 be kept ready at hand. 



In certain regions the coconut trees are exposed 

 to other troubles, including the destructive ex- 

 ploits of the wild pig, the ravenous appetite of 

 the rat, the visits of wild foxes, large bats and 

 squirrels. Wild pigs can be kept within bounds 

 only by the erection of strong fences, or by hunting 

 them down, or poisoning them. These pigs are 

 addicted to nocturnal raids, during which they 

 commit serious damage, especially among the 

 young plants. Rats climb the trees to attack the 

 embryo fruits, and various measures have to be 

 taken to prevent them from doing so, including 

 the fixing to the trunks of a species of inverted, 

 spiked umbrella, beyond which they cannot pass. 

 Some planters favour tarring a ring round the 

 trunks, while others believe in the efficacy of rat 

 poison. In Ceylon many native planters believe 

 that the braying of a donkey will so terrify the 

 rats that they will seek a quieter region ! One 

 authority recommends the introduction of the 



