6lO RUBBER 



this is its sole or even chief function. I am aware that 

 several theories have been propounded to explain the 

 function of the laticiferous system. It is considered by 

 some authorities to be of an excretory nature; while 

 others believe that it is in some way concerned in the 

 storage of reserve food for the plant. But I do maintain 

 that it has a distinct protective value. 



The fact that many of the recorded enemies of Hevea 

 are secondary pests does not lessen their importance. 

 They may complete the destruction of a tree that would 

 otherwise have recovered from the original disease. 



It must also be understood that some of the various 

 insects recorded as pests of Hevea are probably casuals. 

 Every insect that is found resting on the stem of a rubber 

 tree, or even lurking in the neighbourhood, is looked 

 upon with suspicion, and is liable to be condemned 

 without further investigation. Our catalogue of rubber 

 pests, comparatively small as it is, would be considerably 

 reduced were the names of all such casuals eliminated. 



MAMMALS. 



Animal pests of Hevea are to be found amongst both 

 the higher and lower orders of the animal kingdom 

 \he vertebrates and invertebrates. Amongst the former 

 must be reckoned such beasts as elephants, cattle, deer, 

 oats, pigs, hares, porcupines, and rats. 



In Ceylon, stray cattle and goats owned by native 

 neighbours are a grievous nuisance, and are responsible 

 for much damage to young plantations. These animals, 

 having no proper grazing ground, are turned out at night 

 to forage for themselves. They browse along the road- 

 sides (to the inconvenience and danger of motorists) and 

 wander into the neighbouring clearings, w r here they will 

 experiment with any plant that ' comes in their way. 

 Besides injury to rubber nurseries by trampling over 

 the seedlings, they will break off, or even pull up, the 

 young plants, and will devour the foliage of well- 

 established trees. 



Wild deer from the jungles will invade a clearing and 

 behave in very much the same way as their domestic 

 relatives. They have also been known to tear off strips 



