613 



3 to 4 years old. These experiments show that from one third to two 

 thirds of an ounce of rubber can be obtained per day from a tree for 

 about half the year. 



(J. G. Smith in Philippine Agricultural Beview L 6. p. 242). 



A NEW ORDINANCE TO PREVENT THE IN- 

 TRODUCTION OP PESTS INTO THE COLONY. 



Nearly all the Colonies especially those of the tropics have now 

 regulations as to the importation of plants or seeds from countries in 

 which there is any animal or plant pest affecting these plants, and 

 through which the disease is likely to be introduced. These regula- 

 tions are intended of course to protect cultivated plants only, and are 

 usually, but not always, enforced when there is a definite disease 

 affecting an extensive cultivation in the country of the would be export- 

 er, and the same cultivation without the disease in the country to 

 which it is intended to export the plant. Thus Jamaica for many 

 years prohibited the importation of any living plants of whatever kind 

 from any country in which there was cultivated coffee affected with 

 Hemileia Vastatrix, and thus kept the disease out of the country for a 

 considerable period. There are diseases which no man can possibly 

 prevent the invasion of as the distances which spores of fungi can float 

 on the wind is very great and in countries at all contiguous they can 

 drift across if the wind is suitable. The bee hawk moth, the cater- 

 pillar of which was so destructive to the coffee some years ago in 

 Selangor is also a very long flying insect. I found it quite abundant 

 in Christmas island over 200 miles from the nearest land it could have 

 come from. 



But these are rather exceptional cases and most plant diseases 

 appear to be accidentally imported by man. In the interests therefore 

 of the great areas of cultivations of plants now a days, it is essential 

 to prevent as much as possible any disease that has unfortunately 

 appeared in one country from invading another. 



Hitherto there has been no ordinance permitting the Colony to 

 refuse to allow to be imported diseased plants, and it became clearly 

 desirable that it should have this power. Hence at the suggestion of 

 the Director of Gardens the following ordinance has been passed. 



Straits Settlements Ordinance No. XIII of 1908. 



An ordinance to prevent the introduction into the Colony of pests and 

 insects destructive to trees, plants and crops. 

 It is hereby enacted by the Governor of the Straits Settlements 

 with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof as 

 follows : — 



1. This Ordinance may be cited as " The Destructive Pests 

 Ordinance 1908." 



2. The Governor in Council may from time to time make such 

 orders as may to the Governor in Council appear expedient for 

 preventing the introduction into the Colony of any insect, fungus or 



