251 



Mr. Pratt reports that whereas the "red beetles" have been kept 

 well in check the "black beetles" still cause a little trouble in some 

 districts, especially in Krian, where the insects breed in the refuse 

 from the sugar cane. 



White ants destroyed about 100 trees in the Lower Perak district, 

 while squirrels were very destructive in the up-river mukims. 



Pigs continue to do a great deal of damage to young plants 



During the past year 17,000 acres have been taken'up for coconut 

 cultivation by European companies in the Bagan Datoh mukim, 

 5,000 acres in the mukim of Likir, and 2,000 acres have been applied 

 for at Telok Anson. 



The native holdings generally are maintained in a fair condition, 

 though in most of the mukims lalang is very troublesome. 



The Government have widened and deepened the main canal 

 from Rungkup to Sungei Tiang, a distance of about three miles, and 

 from Bagan Pasir to Sungei Batang (about half a mile). This canal 

 when finished will not only facilitate transport, but will help to drain 

 the land in the vicinity, which is very much required. 



About 500 coconut trees were cut down during the construction 

 of the canal and no compensation has yet been awarded to the 

 owners. 



At Bagan Pasir many coconut trees have been damaged by sea- 

 flooding, in some instances the water remaining on the land for five 

 or six days. 



The trees at Pusing Bharu which were attacked by Brachartona 

 catoxantha during 1 909 have entirely recovered and are looking 

 healthy. There was no recurrence of this pest during the year. 



In the Kuala Kangsar district 300 trees were cut down to make 

 room for rubber on one estate and left to decay. The rotting trees 

 became infested with black beetles, of which 1,650 were collected. 

 All the trees were subsequently buried and all larvae destroyed before 

 any serious damage was done to surrounding trees. 



STATE OF SELANGOR. 



During the year under review^ 2,849 acres were opened up under 

 coconuts in this State. 



As in the preceding year beetles gave little or no trouble, all 

 breeding places being thoroughly destroyed as soon as discovered. 



In March a caterpillar pest made its appearance in Kuala 

 Selangor, and although many of the trees were defoliated they rapidly 

 recovered 



