COCOA-GROWING COUNTRIES 423 



it is estimated to be on an average yearly about fl.150 

 per bouw (about 7 to 8 per acre). 



The moth is to be found in every cocoa field, and 

 every tree has more or less fruit damaged by this insect, 

 but in the plains, where the climate is hot, the loss is 

 not so great as up in the mountains. In the plains 

 the Helopeltis is the worst enemy. 



These two pests dominate the whole system of 

 cultivation, and their presence must always be taken 

 into consideration with every cultural measure. 



The moth makes it necessary to " rampas " every 

 year. As shown in Chapter VIII. , this means that 

 at the right time all the fruits hanging on the trees 

 are removed and destroyed. The right time of rampass- 

 ing is difficult to fix, and is a subject of continual 

 deliberation and discussion. The time of blossoming 

 and the time of picking depend, again, on the time of 

 rampassing. 



The combating of the Helopeltis also requires much 

 consideration (see Chapter VIII.). 



The borers are present over the whole of Java. On 

 several estates they are not of much importance, but in 

 Middle Java near Kendal the damage on some estates is 

 very important. In this same district rats are now and 

 then very noxious, while more towards the west, near 

 Pekalongan, the " badjing," a comparatively large rodent 

 (Sciurus notatus), is so numerous that a steady fight 

 is necessary. 



The rats are more or less successfully killed by &i 

 means of poison ; by preference dead crabs treated with 

 arsenic are used the smell of the crabs seems to attract 

 the rats. 



In East Java, principally in fields situated at a short 

 distance from the forest, pigs and a small species of 

 deer, called "kidang" (Gervulus muntjak\ are some- 

 times troublesome ; in rare cases also a larger species of 

 deer (Cervus russa). 



When the fruit is healthy, not attacked by moth, 

 2500 to 3000 fruits are necessary to obtain 1 pikul 



