95 



Carbon Bisulphide. — As already pointed out this has much to 

 recommend it, particularly its effectiveness. The rat has no option: 

 it is not a matter of taking or leaving bread. The animal will 

 succumb if it is in the hole. 



To obtain good results the applications should begin as soon as 

 the rats enter the fields, which the Malays tell me is about a month 

 after the plants are put out. The batas should be as few as are 

 consistent with the slope of the ground; they should be kept clean 

 of grass and weeds so that holes may be readily seen. An examin- 

 ation should be made twice a week, or oftener, and every hole 

 treated as described above. After the first two weeks or so the 

 number of holes found will be very few, and with a little trouble 

 the vermin should be entirely exterminated. Carbon bisulphide 

 delivered at Port Swettenham, costs 60 cents a pound. I believe a 

 pound should do an acre, but I can make no definite statement. 

 The amount will depend on how little is wasted, the number of 

 batas, and the number of tunnels in them. 



The disadvantages are: — 



(1) Its volatility. If care is not exercised much may be lost 



into the air. 



(2) It must be handled carefully. The vessel contained it 



should not be struck heavy blows or knocked about, 

 and should not be exposed for long to the direct rays of 

 the sun. 



Perhaps the Penghulu or some responsible person could be 

 charged with the custody of the liquid, and the superintendence 

 of its application. I think 2 lb. tins would be a suitable size to 

 use. Only one of these should be supplied each time. The tin 

 could be surrounded with sawdust in a thick-sided wooden box, 

 and fixed in so that it could not fall out. With these precautions 

 and w r ith a suitable cork, which we should be able to devise, there 

 would be no danger, except in cases of extreme negligence. 



When further experiments have been made directions as to how 

 to apply it will be prepared. Perhaps a number of Penghulus 

 could be collected at suitable centres and demonstrations given by 

 a qualified man from the Department of Agriculture. 



W. J. GALLAGHER. 



Note. — Re Danysz Virus see " Agricultural Blletin " v. 373 (Ed.) 



P. P. A. 



Annual General Meeting. 



At the first annual general meeting of the Perak Planters' 

 Association, held on FYiday afternoon last, 14th instant, at the Ipoh 

 Club, the following Members were present : Messrs. W. DUNCAN 

 (in the chairj C. L. GIBSON, JOHN I. PHILIPS, C. V. STEPHENS, 



