269 



The stumps are reported to be attacked at night and in the early 

 morning after and during rainy weather. 



This would be a dangerous pest to young estates, but for the fact 

 that the nest which it inhabits is easily found on well weeded estates 

 and the inmates can be easily killed with the fumes of arsenic 

 -and sulphur applied through the nozzle of the Universal White 

 Ant Exterminator. 



E. HOLMAN HUNT. 



EFFECT OF CLEARING OF FOREST ON 

 RAINFALL 



An article in the Agricultural Bulletin of June, 1911, on the 

 " Drought Spell " refers to this subject. As is there stated the only 

 available records are not to be implicitly relied upon for accuracy. 

 The rainfall records of the Federated Malay States are kept at 

 Government Hospitals. It is questionable whether the rain gauges 

 are always placed in such position as to give accurate records, but 

 the figures obtained are probably a very fair indication of the relative 

 quantity of rain that fell during certain periods, even if they are not 

 quite accurate as to the actual rainfall. 



The following records are of interest : — 



In Taipeng, from 1897 to 1903, the annual average rainfall was 

 165 inches. From 1904 to 1910 the average was 166 inches. There 

 is little to be deduced from these figures, as no large clearings have 

 been made in the immediate vicinity of Taipeng since 1897. The 

 rainfall during 1910 was only 149 inches, the lowest record since 

 1903. During 1910 a considerable amount of jungle (mostly secon- 

 dary growth) was felled and burned on Scott's Hill. 



At Ipoh for the decade 189T to 1900 the annual average was 99 

 inches. For the decade '1901 to 1910 it was 93 inches. There was 

 probably more jungle cleared immediately round Ipoh during the 

 first of these periods than during the second. There has been a 

 great deal of clearing and burning in the country within 10 miles of 

 Ipoh, during the last few years, but so far from this having caused 

 a diminution in the rainfall, the records show that the average for 

 the last four years is nearly I02 inches, or 6 inches over the average 

 for the last 20 years. 



Records are available in Kuala Lumpur from 1879. During the 

 16 years 1879 to 1894, the annual average was 100 inches, during the 

 following period of 16 years it was 95 inches. There was more felling 

 and burning in the immediate vicinity of Kuala Lumpur during the 



