426 



vicinity of the trees is often unsuspected. The beetles may, 

 however, easily be caught. They hide themselves during 

 the day-time just below the surface of the ground around 

 the base of the coffee tree. A few coolies instructed to dig 

 away the earth near each tree with a trowel will collect all 

 the beetle in a few days. There is no necessity to dig 

 deeply as the depth to which the beetle bores is but 1-3 

 inches. 



Padi. 



It is reported from the British Residency, Pahang, that 

 the padi in Pahang has been severely attacked by Nonagvia 

 inferens, the same insect that was responsible for the 

 damage at Krian during 1906. On account of the lack of an 

 irrigation scheme the cultivation of padi in Pahang can 

 hardly be as good as that of Krian, and a return of the 

 insect may be expected in 1909; it has been impossible to 

 deal with all these pests since my transference to the Agri- 

 cultural Department and it will take some time before a 

 thorough knowledge of these insects can be gained. I hope 

 to study the padi pests during 1909. It is likely that the 

 section of resistant kinds of padi and better cultivation will 

 improve matters, but it will be necessary for observation 

 to, be made on the ground. 



Attacus atlas has given considerable trouble to the 

 Superintendent of the Government Experiment Plantations 

 as has also a Pyralid moth, Agathodes ostentalis, on the 

 Dadap {Erythrina). Both of these insects are under ob- 

 servation and remedies for them will be given later. 



A series of lectures to the various District Associations 

 are being commenced. The first of these will be on the 

 methods that must be adopted by the planters in order to 

 deal effectively with the white ant attacking rubber. Dis- 

 cussions will follow the lectures and diagrams and demon- 

 strations will be given. 



H. C. PRATT, 



Government Entomologist. 



REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF COCONUT 

 PLANTATIONS FOR THE YEAR 1908. 



The area under coconuts in the Federated Malay States 

 I estimate, approximately, at 118,697 acres, made up as 

 follows: 



