53 



leaves entirely consumed, but the ends of the young shoots are 

 eaten back for several inches. This regular periodical defoliation 

 very seriously checks the growth of the plants, and would interfere 

 with the profitable cultivation of this species of rubber in Ceylon. 

 Fortunately it does not attack Para rubber which so far has proved 

 practically immune to insect attack. 



Though it would be possible to check the pest on young trees over 

 a small area, by spraying with arsenical compounds, such treatment 

 would be impracticable with extensive cultivation and older trees. 



The same insect similarly defoliates Portlandia grandiflora in 

 our Botanic Gardens. 



Your? faithfully, 



E. ERNEST GREEN, 



Govern merit Entomologist 



ENCOURAGEMENT OP AGRICULTURE AMONG 

 THE NATIVES. 



Papers in Continuation of Printed Paper "Experimental 

 Plantations" of the iq/th September, 1903, 

 No. 104/03. 



Office of the Inspector of 

 Coconut Trees, 



Federated Malay States, 

 Kuala Lumpur, rrth November, igo j. 



Subject : 



Encouragement of Agriculture among Natives. 



Sir,— 



I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter Xo 

 Misc. 7259/03, dated 7th November current, enclosing copy of a 

 letter by the Superintendent of the Government Experimental Plan- 

 tations on the above subject for my views and recommendations. 



2. The scheme proposed by Mr. Arden is, I believe, well worthy 

 of consideration, but in my opinion its success entirely depends in 

 educating the native inhabitants in the underlying principles of 

 tropical agriculture, and until good progress in this can be fully as- 

 sured it appears to me the Government would not be justified in 

 adopting the other more extensive proposals that are suggested. 



3. I regret I cannot from the experience I have had put away 

 from any mind the fact that unless the native inhabitants are pro- 

 perly aroused they will never take much real interest in agriculture, 

 more especially when the latest methods should be adopted if the 

 best results are to be obtained, and to be taught the work on this 

 scale, supervision will certainly have to he exercised to which ex- 

 ception may also be taken bv them. 



No. I.C.T., F.M.S. 174/03- 

 No. Misc. 7259/03. 



