CHAPTER XXVII. 



ENEMIES AND FRIENDS OF GARDENS AND 



ESTATES 



GARDEX AXD ESTATE EXEMIES:- 



Besides destructive insects, there are numerous animal pests 

 which the cultivator of the soil has to contend with in the 

 tropics. The following are the principal enemies in Ceylon which 

 come under this head. 



Squirrels. These are sometimes very destructive in the low- 

 country to fruits and edible seeds. They do considerable damage 

 to cacao pods, mango fruits, pine- apples, etc., also to rubber 

 nurseries by picking out and cracking the seed. Shooting, or 

 driving them away is about the only practical remedy, unless 

 recourse is had to poisoned baits. 



Rats are very destructive, especially to coconuts and root- 

 crops. Baits poisoned with arsenic is perhaps the best way of 

 extirpating them. They may be prevented from climbing coconut 

 palms and other trees by nailing a piece of tin, about 10 to 12 

 inches wide, on to the trunk of the tree. 



Hares. These, where they abound, do considerable damage 

 in a garden. A fence of wire-netting is the best protection against 

 them. 



Civet- and palm-cats. These are sometimes destructive to 

 fruits, especially pine-apples. Watching for them at night and 

 shooting them is perhaps the most practical remedy. The native 

 watcher lures these animals by means of a light carried on his head ; 

 the light dazzles the cats and enables the watcher with his gun to 

 come close up to his game. 



Deer or elk. In the hill districts these sometimes do a great 

 deal of damage by browsing on all tender plants that come within 

 their reach. A substantial wire-fence of about six strands serves 

 as a barrier against them. 



Porcupines. These constitute perhaps the worst animal pest 

 at Hakgala and other up-country gardens. They root up bulbs 



