169 



By way of the hole thus formed force six ounces of calcium carbide 

 (the amount of course varies according to the age and condition of the 

 tree, the amount suggested being the maximum) into the hollow portion ; 

 close the entrance by means of a cork or cement and apply a little tar 

 over the wound after it is stopped up. The advantage of a plug is that 

 it is easily pulled out if the treatment has to be repeated. 



Coolies should not be allowed to remove the mud-encasements of 

 T. ycstroi with a stick or parang as they do not kill the ants and are 

 liable to cut into the tree. A coconut brush or some such implement 

 is for more effective if rubbed down the bark. Gales of wind are often 

 the cause of trees splitting down the centre between two large branches, 

 or branches are liable to break off. It is advisable in such cases to 

 apply tar to the wound. Trees blown down by the wind must not be 

 propped up, but destroyed. Those trees which have a tendency to fall 

 hould be supported in the side towards which they are leaning. 



Patent White Ant Mixture. 



There are several patent " White Ant " insecticides placed in the 

 market here. Those which have been experimented with arc " Street's 

 liquid white ant cure " " Atlas preserver " and " Anticide." 



A Lower Perak planter states he has obtained most satisfactory 

 results with the former mixture. 



His method of application was precisely the same as mine (applied 

 to the roots and outside of the trees) except that a larger variety of 

 experiments were tried by me, and the strength of the " ant cure " was 

 varied to a greater extent. 



The results of my own experiments were not successful, for while 

 the attacks were repelled for a few days, the termites returned as soon 

 as the noxious elements of this insecticide had disappeared. It is a 

 very corrosive mixture and must be applied with care if used, although 

 its application I maintain is useless while the burrows remain undis- 

 turbed. The results obtained from " Atlas preserver " and Anticide " 

 (the latter is composed to a large extent of Cyanide) have not been 

 favourable. 



To the planting community in general from whom I have received 

 generous assistance while investigating this disease, I would offer my 

 thanks. To a few planters in particular my thanks are especially due 

 but as the appearance of their names is usually taken to mean that their 

 estates are the most affected a public acknowledgement is undesirable. 



H. E. Pratt. 



SOME DISEASES OF RUBBER PLANTS. 



We extract the following notes from a long and important pam- 

 phlet by Dr. Ch. Bernard. " Sur quelques maladies des Planter a 

 Caoutchouc."* Though written for Java the advice given is equally 

 of value to planters in this Peninsula. 



* Bulletin du Departement de 1' Agriculture aux Indes Neerlaudaises 

 No. XII, (Phytopathologie 111). Buitenzorg, 1907. 



