38 COCONUT CULTIVATION 



Termites Gestroi, or White Ants. A species 

 of white ant which, if not discovered in time, is 

 fatally destructive to a tree it has attacked. 



The colonies of white ants were, of course, 

 resident in the jungle before it was felled, and 

 they often remain on in the plantation, making 

 their home in the fallen debris, from whence 

 they prospect for living roots. 



In the tender years they appear to leave 

 plants untouched, but as the trees grow older 

 and the roots go deeper, they attract the atten- 

 tion of the white ant. This may occur after 

 three or four years' growth, and, unfortunately, 

 the work of destruction goes on, generally un- 

 suspected and therefore unhindered, till the tree 

 is hollowed out and falls to the ground. 



It would seem that precautionary measures 

 are out of the question ; the only thing to be 

 done on discovery of a run is to pump in sulphur 

 fumes by means of a patent fumigator, which is 

 in general use in Malaya, and has been found to 

 be highly successful. 



A coconut plantation is not a popular hunting 

 ground for the white ant, nor are the trees so 

 agreeable to it as are rubber trees or other soft 

 woods; further, the sandy soil is not habitual 

 to the white ant. Probably these reasons account 

 for the low percentage of loss on coconut estates 

 from this pest. 



