12 



causes less harm to the trees, and ensures larger and quicker profits. 

 But on the other hand, it remains to be seen whether the sap of the 

 young trees mentioned will produce as good a rubber of equal 

 elasticity and resilience as that of the older trees which have arrived 

 at maturity, and whether ultimate injury will not have been caused 

 to these young trees."— Ed. 



THE REWARD FOR A METHOD OF 

 EXTERMINATING TERMES GESTROi. 



A reward of five thousand pounds was offered in April 1909 for 

 the best method of exterminating the destructive pest, Termes Gestroi 

 in plantations. The difficulty lay in reaching the underground nest 

 from the tree attacked with any smoke or liquid which would 

 reach and destroy the insects in the nest. 



As committee to examine the applications sent in were elected 

 by the Government, the Director of Gardens, the Director of Agri- 

 culture in the Federated Malay States and the Chairman of the 

 Planters Association. 



As might be expected a considerable number of applications were 

 sent in from all parts of the world. In many cases, ordinary 

 insecticides were recommended or methods in use for destroying 

 other species of termites were suggested, the applicants having had 

 no acquaintance with the Termes Gestroi or its somewhat exceptional 

 habits. In one or two cases even magical processes were advised. 

 A number recommended the use of a machine which had for some 

 time been in use in the Peninsula and had been invented elsewhere, 

 and which is more or less effective, but was of course not a new 

 invention in the sense that was required. 



The applications were carefully considered by the Committee 

 and it was decided that none were suitable for the reward, which has 

 now been finally withdrawn. 



THE EXHIBITION LECTURES ON RUBBER. 



The lectures on rubber delivered at the Conference held in con- 

 nection with the International Rubber Exhibition in London in 

 September, 1908, have been published in a neat book form by the 

 International Rubber and Allied Trades Exhibition, 75 Chancery 

 Lane, London, for the price of lOs. 6d. Mr. S, D. Spence has edited 

 the publication, which contains all the papers read and the discussions 

 that followed. 



The whole forms a most valuable and interesting contribution to 

 the literature of rubber, and is well worth reading by every one 

 interested in rubber, whether planter, manufacturer or shareholder. 



