522 



it seems trifling to the writer, it may instead be of considerable aid in 

 diagnosing the disease or suggesting remedies. To help planters in 

 describing diseased plants an "Information Form " has been drawn up 

 and will be sent free to any planter. The Form is not meant to be 

 exhaustive but rather to aid the planter in recording his observations ; 

 and mention of special circumstances or points of interest in connec- 

 tion with a disease should not be omitted because they do not come 

 w T ithin the answers, but included as useful additional information. 

 It is advisable for a planter to describe the most convenient way of 

 reaching his estate from the nearest railway station in case an official 

 may have to make investigations on the spot. 



Usually too little material is sent, and that in a bad condition. 

 Specimens should not be sent in small envelopes as is too often done; 

 in this way they arrive too dry or shrivelled up, and the quality is 

 usually too small. Moist specimens should be carefully packed in a 

 ventilated box; so should pieces of stem, branch or root. Leaves 

 should be put out flat between sheets of newspaper cut to a con- 

 venient size and protected by cardboard on the out sides. Leaves 

 should not be sent alone, but with twigs. 



It is undesirable to send specimens in bags, as is frequently done. 

 A stem or root should be fixed in a box by screwing a nail through one 

 end of the box and into the wood of the plant. Specimens such as leaves 

 and pieces cut out of root or stems, besides being forwarded in a dry 

 state, should also be sent in alcohol — one part ordinary whisky or 

 arack added to two parts water, using if possible a fairly wide-mouthed 

 but not necessarily large bottle: the cork should be sealed. 



It is best not to send a specimen which has been dead for a long 

 time: on these numbers of different post mortem fungi and bacteria 

 are usually to be found, and the real source of trouble can seldom be 

 separated. Specimens should if possible be sent which contain more 

 sound than diseased tissue : the boundary line between these two is 

 the most useful for work in the laboratory. 



FURTHER REPORT ON THE EXTERMINATION 



OF RATS IN RICE-FIELDS.* 



Work Done at Tanjong Malim. 



Tanjong Malim, 8th-12th September, 1008. 



1. The field was cleared and planted for the first time this year. 

 The rats, owing to the ground being for the most part under water, 

 were not in the batas, but had their holes in 'busuts' (old ant hills) and 

 dead jungle stumps which had not been burned off. The conditions 

 were therefore not at all favourable, and I was sceptical of success when 

 I was first saw them. The results were, however, most satisfactory, and 

 Mr. M. D. Daly, Assistant District Officer who gave me much assistance, 

 is quite convinced of the simplicity, efficacy, and cheapness of carbon 

 bisulphide. 



•See Agricultural Bulletin S. S. and F. M. S. March, 1908. 



