AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN 



• )K THK 



STRAITS 







AND 





PEDERATED 



^ALAy STATES. 



No. 8. 



AUGUST, 1910. [Vol. IX 



THIRD REPORT 



ON 



Experimental Tapping of Para Rubber Trees in 

 the Botanical Gardens, Singapore, Continued: ~ 



PESTS. 



We have little additional information on the subject of Fomes 

 setnitostus. The fungus seems still to be pushing its way, but it 

 appears more slowly than at first among the trees at the place at 

 which it first appeared. There is no doubt that it is difficult to deal 

 with in ground where the trees are close together, and v^^ere the 

 ground cannot be effectively drained. It seems to be getting -weaker 

 in its growth, but of this I am not sure, as several trees of late have 

 not succumbed before the fruit appeared, which formerly was at 

 least unusual, and to be moving more slowly. By the destruction of 

 its sporophores, it is prevented from reproducing by spores, and 

 this by forcing it to produce by mycelial threads only may in time 

 cause it to die out. The fungus is now so well-known to all planters, 

 and seems to occur in all parts of the peninsula, Borneo, etc., and 

 the extirpation of stumps and roots now almost everywhere the rule 

 seems to be the most successful preventive measure. It is rather 



