20 



The Straits Plantations Co., 

 Bagtin Datoh, 



Teluk Anson, 

 i 2th Nov., oj. 



Dear Sir, 



We have found pupae and live adult coconut beetles in the 

 soil together with these grubs, so I think there can be little doubt 

 that many of the grubs found are those of the coconut beetle. We 

 have also found in the soil the beetle which I take to be the one 

 you xx\^n\\o\\\Xylotrupes Gideon) together with very similar grubs. 

 This beetle is of lighter colour than the rhinoceros beetle, and has 

 what 1 should describe as a double horn, it hisses furiously when 

 cauglit. We have these also on the brandies of coconut trees but 

 never in the young shoot, and I do not think that it does any damage. 



I am very glad to say that the result of the Hooding is extremely 

 satisfactory as the number of beetles brought in has been very 

 greatly reduced. Formerly z men were bringing in 50 or 60 a day 

 between them, and now, with 4 men working, only from 10 to 1 5 

 beetles are brought in per day. 



Owing to other reasons we have been obliged to let the water 

 oh, but I am afraid that if we are to cope successfully with the 

 beetle we shall be obliged to flood the whole estate periodically. 

 In the native kampongs about here very little drainage is done 

 and the places are consequently very wet and they suffer very 

 little damage from beetles. 



Again thanking vou for your letter. 



I remain, 



Yours very truly, 



W. DELI . 



KNOTS ON PARA RUBBER TREES. 



From Mr. BURN Murdoch, I have lately received some knots or 

 burrs from Para rubber trees sent him by Mr. C. Gordon BROWN of 

 Selinsing Estate, who feared that they might be due to the Ceylon 

 canker fungus. These knots are very common in Para rubber trees 

 as well as many other trees especially those with smooth bark. They s 

 consist of balls of wood casilv detached from the trunk, by a blow, 

 and art' covered with bark. The wood is perfectly sound, white 

 and hard, and there is no signs of decay in or round them. They 

 are perfectly harmless and have no connection with any fungus or 

 insect-bite- but are due to the irritation caused by suppressed buds 

 in the stem. They often appear on a lapping mark. The cut 

 having been made through or close to a bud, it commences to 

 grow but does not develop and is covered up again by the growth 

 of wood over it. The only objection to them is that they often - 



