465 



COCONUT TREES ATTACKED BY A COCCID. 



A portion of a leaf of a coconut palm attacked by a Coccid in 

 immense abundance was sent from Kelantan to the Botanic Gardens. 

 The whole of the leaflets were covered on the underside with a vast 

 number of the insects which were in the form of circular brown hats ; 

 the biggest about ,V of an inch across. There were about 8oo of them 

 of various sizes to a square inch of the leaf. The sender writes that 

 some of the trees first showed signs of the sickness some ten or 

 twelve days previously and it seems to have spread fairly quickly 

 over a small part, the leaves turning red and dying. 



A blight like this is apt to be very troublesome on coconut of the 

 immense abundance of the insect audits very rapid reproduction. 



As it seems to dry up and become easily detached when adult, 

 it is quite possible that it could be carried from one tree to another by 

 puffs of wind, conveying eggs with it and so might spread rapidly. 



In such cases as these the first and obviously the first thing 

 to do is to cut off the infected leaves and burn them at once. 

 A palm will usually stand the removal of nearly all its leaves, so that 

 a large proportion may be removed safely. The rest should be sprayed 

 or washed down with kerosine emulsion, made with kerosine and soft 

 soap. 



After an attack of blight like this it is very advisable to manure 

 the affected trees to assist them in recovering their strength. — Ed. 



BROWN'S SPECIFIC 



FOR 

 AND 



OIARRMOEA. 



To l)e had at the Singapore Dispensary and of Miss Brown, 

 Grassdale, River Valley Road, Singapore. : : : : 



