534 EDITORIAL. 



where 199 had been caught iu May and June of 1906, 1,906 were cap- 

 tured in the same months of 1907. In another instance, the increase in 

 the same months was from 138 in 1906 to 3,889 in 1907. This increase 

 was almost entirely in the number of beetles extracted from the standing 

 trees. Mr. Green says : 



"I have found nearly fully grown larvfe of the beetle {Rhynchophorus) in 

 trees under conditions that indicate that they must have developed within a period 

 of six weeks. It seems possible that the insect may reach maturity in from 

 eight to ten weeks' time." 



The only way in which such serious outbreaks, following tyi^hoous, 

 can be prevented, is by the suppression of the beetles at all times. This 

 is' impossible without such unity of action as is practicable only when 

 demanded by law. As beetles are a pest throughout the Islands, legislation 

 by the Insular Government is needed. The Provinces of La Laguna and 

 Tayabas have passed ordinances against a local coconut pest, the bud rot, 

 and have very promptly reduced it to comparative harmlessness, but 

 single provinces can not deal effectively with beetles. The Straits Settle- 

 ments, the Federated Malay States, and Ceylon have for years had laws 

 aimed at the suppression of beetles, and their value is well proved. 

 Coconut products are second only to abaca in the value of exports of the 

 Philippines. The beetles are probably at this time our most dangerous 

 and most destructive agricultural pest. It is hoped that the Legislature 

 during its coming session will j)ass an Act providing for their suppression. 



E. B. COPELAND. 



CUTCH. 



Cutch, a product of the heartwood of Acacia catechu Willd., has been 

 known from India and Burma for many years. It is used as a dye and 

 for tanning. Considerable quantities were exported to Europe for use in 

 dyeing cotton goods. The siipply was not entirely uniform or reliable 

 because of the scattered manner of growth of the trees and the nomadic 

 habits of the tribes that collected the cutch. "Wlien it was discovered that 

 several of the different varieties of mangrove trees had bark which would 

 furnish excellent dye and tanning material, they began to be considered 

 as to the possibility of their furnishing a cutch to take the place of the 

 Indian article. 



It was found to be a comparatively simple matter to prepare the man- 

 grove bark extract and the supply of mangroves was very great. Several 

 companies started preparing the extract in the extensive swamps of Bor- 

 neo ; it succeeded in the market and quickly superseded the Indian cutch 

 to such an extent that this term is now used mainly with reference to 

 tlie mangrove extract. 



