2I8 



Perhaps this idea may be scouted as Utopian but there can be 

 little doubt that the time will come when as strong regulations will 

 be found essential and will be as rigorously enforced as those relating 

 to cattle or human disease, and it is of importance to all from the 

 planter to the shareholder and consumer that such regulations should 

 be made and enforced. — Ed. 



CORRESPONDENCE 



Tuba root for killing Termites. 



April 28th, 1910. 



H. N. Ridley Esq., 

 Dear Sir, 



I hope the few lines I am about to write you will not weary you 

 nor be an old story. 



We have a small rubber plantation here —part of it is on an old 

 Dyak clearing, and on this we were greatly troubled with white ants. 

 Being so far from Singapore, and having very little money, we tried 

 what we had at hand, and which would cost the least. I need not tell 

 you how many things we tried, but we have finally cleaned our 

 garden of white ants with tuba. We prepare it just like the Malays 

 do when they prepare it for fishing — by beating the tuba and mixing it 

 with water. Strong or weak it does not affect the trees or other 

 vegetation. If the case is not bad, pour the water around the tree, 

 if it is bad, take the earth away from the roots a little. I hope it will 

 work for you as it has for us, and that you will try this, as it is little 

 trouble and no expense. I suppose the jungle on the Malay 

 Peninsula is full of tuba as it is here. If you want any further 

 information, I will be glad to give it. I hope you will let me know 

 what you think of this. 



Sincerely, 



J. M. Hoover. 



Tuba root has often been tried for termites before, with more or 

 less success. It will certainly eject them temporarily but it is like 

 other liquid insecticides too easily washed out by rain, when the pest 

 may return. I have never seen tuba really wild except on a few 

 limestone rocks.— Ed. 



Erratum. 



H. N. Ridley Esq., April 13th, 1910. 



Director of the Botanic Gardens, 



Singapore. 



Dear Sir, 



In the issue for March 1910 of the " Agricultural Bulletin of the 

 Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States," page 108, a note 



