357 



The out-put of the dry rubber and the yield of latex per 

 tree show substantial increases especially the former which 

 at this rate of increase should in 4 or 6 years give a total 

 out-put for the Federated Malay States equal to or grater 

 than the World's harvest of Para rubber at the present 

 moment. 



During the early months of 1908 the price of Para 

 rubber fell to as low as 3/-but during the latter months 

 prices showed a substantial increase until the year closed 

 with the market prices at 5/9. During 1909 the price has 

 been gradually improving until at the present time as much 

 as 8/- has been obtained for sheet. With no indication of a 

 sudden drop in prices in the near future the present year 

 should close showing an average price per pound greatly 

 in advance of 1908. 



In our next issue of the Bulletin we hope to give the 

 Annual Report of the Director of Agriculture in full. 



T. W. Main. 



A LEPIDOPTEROTTS PEST OF COCONUTS, 



BBACHAETONA CATOXANTHA, HAMPS : 

 (ZYGAENIDiE). 



Under the above heading we have received from the 

 Department of Agriculture, Federated Malay States in 

 Bulletin form an article on this destructive pest by Mr. H. 

 C. Pratt, Government Entomologist. I became acquainted 

 with this insect a few years ago in Perak and had oppor- 

 tunities of viewing its ravages on several plantations, prin- 

 cipally native. Mr. Pratt gives a clear description of the 

 Eggs, Larva, Pupa and Moth male and female, also the life 

 history of the insect showing that during the fourth brood 

 as many as forty thousand Caterpillars may be present on 

 a single tree. The damage caused by such a mass of insects 

 if allowed to remain will be quickly understood. As the 

 subject is an important one to coconut planters and as ex- 

 cellent remedial and preventive measures are given at the 

 end of the article we take the liberty of reprinting the 

 pamphlet in full. 



Copies of the Bulletin (No. 4) may be obtained on 

 application to the Department of Agriculture, Kuala 

 Lumpur. 



T. W. M. 



