560 OLEAGINOUS PLANTS. 



Coco-nut beetle. The chief natural enemy of this tree is a de- 

 structive species of elephant-beetle (Oryctes Rhinoceros), which 

 begins by nibbling the leaves into the shape of a fan ; it then per- 

 forates the central pithy fibre, so that the leaf snaps off; and lastly, 

 it descends into the folds of the upper shoot, where it bores itself 

 a nest, and if not speedily extracted or killed, will soon destroy 

 the tree. At Singapore, on account of the depredations of this 

 beetle, the difficulties have been considerable. 



In Pinang and Province Wellesley it has only been observed 

 within the last two years, and it is believed to have come from 

 Keddah. A similar kind of beetle is, however, found on the Coro- 

 inandel coast. The natives of Keddah say that this insect appears 

 at intervals of two, three, or more years. 



Its larva), which are also very formidable insects or grubs, about 

 three inches long, with large reddish heads, are found in decaying 

 vegetable matter. It is when the tree has made considerable 

 progress, however, that the parent insect does most mischief. 

 When they are from one to two years old, throwing out their 

 graceful branches in quick succession with the greatest vigor, and 

 promising in three or four years more to yield their ruddy 

 fruit, this destructive enemy begins to exercise his boring pro- 

 pensities ; and, making his horn act as an auger, he soon pene- 

 trates the soft and yielding fibre of the young tree, and if not 

 discovered in time, destroys the leading shoot or branch. The 

 only remedy which has been adopted in Ceylon, is the following : 

 Several intelligent boys are provided each with an iron needle 

 or probe, of about a foot long, with a sharp double barbed point, 

 like a fish-hook, and a ring handle ; they go through the plantation 

 looking narrowly about the trees, and when they perceive the hole 

 in the trunk, which indicates that the enemy is at work, they 

 thrust in the barbed instrument and pull him out. Sometimes he 

 may only have just commenced, when his capture is more easily 

 effected, but even should he have penetrated to the very heart of 

 the tree, the deadly needle does not fail in its errand, but brings the 

 culprit out, impaled and writhing on its point. This is the only 

 known way of checking the ravages of this beetle, except de- 

 stroying its Iarva3. Some cultivators, however, think pouring salt 

 water or brine on the top of the tree, so as to descend among the 

 folds of the upper shoots, a good plan to get rid of the larva*. 



Nearly two million coco-nuts are shipped annually from Bahia. 



From Ceylon, 114,600 coco-nuts were shipped in 1851, and 

 70,185 in 1852. 



Coco-nut oil; 98,159 gallons were shipped from Ceylon in 

 1852 ; 359,233 gallons in 1851. 



The prices of Ceylon oil have ranged from 31 to 33 10s. 

 per tun ; of Cochin oil, 34 to 35, within the last two years. 

 The price per leaguer in Colombo, without casks, has been 8 10s. 

 to 9. 



Copper ah. is the name given by the natives to the kernel of the 

 ripe nut after it has been exposed to the sun on mats, until it has 



