IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. 83 



towards an extension* of these plantations. The work is ad- 

 vancing ; but meanwhile it would be premature to report further 

 upon it. It is worthy of remark, that the pests of our planta- 

 tions below ghat are, white ants, spotted deer, and wild hogs ; 

 whilst above devastations are committed, perhaps to a greater 

 extent, by rats, hares, porcupines, grubs, and frost.f 



Rats. — The Nilgiri rat (Mus providens, W. Elliot), is a serious 

 enemy, working underground, eating across the tap-root, and 

 continuing its devastations after the young plant is safe from 

 frost and hares. 



Frost. — The frost, during certain months of the year, is detri- 

 mental to the young trees situated in the low lying swampy 

 ground of the hills, but it seldom affects those planted on the 

 slopes. As a general rule, it ceases to act injuriously after the 

 plant has completed the second year. The sign of the young 

 tree being frost-bitten, is a patch or ring of softened and dis- 

 coloured bark, with fissures, usually an inch or two above ground, 

 and the leaves dropping off. 



Hares; — The hares, in the clear moonlight nights, nibble off 

 the leading shoots, returning again and again until the plant's 

 development is seriously checked, giving it a dwarfed and un- 

 seemly aspect. After the young trees, however, have attained a 

 height of about two feet above ground, they cease to be a tempta- 

 tion to the hares ; but other causes of anxiety and sources of injury 

 now present themselves. 



Grubs Various kinds of grubs assail the tender plant ; some of 



them entering from below, pierce into the heart- wood, and continue 

 their excavations upwards. Many precautions have been taken to 

 rendertheplantations secure from these sourcesof injury, with some 

 degree of advantage. The most successful mode of dealing with 

 rats, is that of depositing phosphorus pills |. at the entrance of 

 their holes. The formula is furnished in Ure's " Dictionary of 



* A consignment of Jarrah seed is expected from Australia. 



t The natural enemies of forest trees in Sind are described by Mr N. A. 

 Dalzell in his able Report 1858-9. 



X " Hog's lard, ground cocoa-nut, and phosphorus, form the most certain 

 bait and poison combined." — (Baker's " Ceylon," p. 109.) Care must be taken 

 in mixing the phosphorus, of which very little suffices. 



