130 SPICES 



CHAP. 



dies, and the planter in despair abandons the plantation, 

 leaving the dying trees to infect the other plantations. 



It is imperative, therefore, to prevent the beetles 

 from increasing in such numbers that it becomes im- 

 possible to check them, and this can be done by 

 destroying by burning all sticks that can furnish them 

 with a breeding-ground. 



It is more difficult to prevent them from attacking 

 the underground part of the stem. I observed, however, 

 that the better class of cultivators were in the habit of 

 covering the ground beneath the tree with cut grass, 

 the common grass known in Malay regions as lalang 

 (Imperata cylindrica) being the grass used, and that 

 trees so treated suffered less from the beetles. This 

 mulching also serves to protect the high -lying roots 

 from the excessive sun-heat, and also supplies a certain 

 amount of nutriment. 



If a tree, however, has got badly attacked, and it 

 may be considered worth while to try and save it, all 

 affected bark should be cut off and burnt, and tar or 

 lime- wash liberally applied. The underground part of 

 the stem, which is often difficult to get at on account 

 of the close network of roots, could be treated by pick- 

 ing over the soil and loosening it, and pouring over a 

 strong solution of some insecticide, and mulching with cut 

 grass or dead leaves. 



The Mango-Borer. The caterpillar of a fairly large 

 moth, which is commonly found in the Malay Peninsula 

 boring in the branches of the mango tree, occasionally 

 attacks the nutmeg when there are mango trees in the 

 immediate neighbourhood. Probably this only appears 

 when there are not sufficient mango trees for the moth 

 to lay its eggs on, and may be classed as an accidental 

 attack. 



Aphis or greenfly occurs occasionally on sickly or 

 weak trees. 



A small pychid moth caterpillar, which makes a 

 kind of case for itself out of bits of leaf, I have met 

 with browsing on the stigmas of the female flowers. 



