214 



September, 1912. 



couple of feet away from the bole. It is quick growing, and may 

 be protected by thorns so as to keep cattle off it until a stout hedge 

 is formed. It can be trimmed down to the height of the growing 

 plant and during drought it has the advantage of affording shelter 

 and conserving moisture, while the prunings enrich the soil. The cost 

 of trimming the hedge once in six months is small. In a stiff soil the 

 lateral roots thrown out by the lantaua open up the soil. It 

 grows on the surface and can usually be rooted up by hand, the roots 

 loosening the soil. Finally, when the coconut plants are beyond the 

 reach of cattle, the hedge is rooted up and buried in the plant-hole ; 

 or it is burnt after a week s exposure, and much potash, in which the, 

 lantana is very rich, is added to the soil. The vigorous and perfectly 

 developed plants, which flourish within this live hedge, falsify the theory 

 that the lantana impoverishes the soil to the detriment of the plant. 

 When saplings are planted in older plantations whose trees have taken 

 possession of the land, it will be of advantage to cut a narrow drain 

 outside the coconut-hole and say 5 feet away from the plant, all round 

 it to a depth of 15 to 18 inches. This would help in checking the roots of 

 the trees immediately round from interfering with the growth of the 

 young plant. 



The Red Beetle. 



It is withiu this period that the red beetle is most active, and watch- 

 fulness is needed. The greatest care should be taken when weeding, 

 that in the process of trimming, the branches are never torn off the 

 stem. Cut off the dry branches with a sharp catty, allowing the butt 

 end to remain on the trunk. The lace woik of fibre, by which 

 the dry fronds that encircle the tree are held together, offers the 

 necessary obstacles to the intrusion of the beetle. If you safeguard 

 this there will be small need to employ a staff of beetle-hunters who, I 

 fear, greatly help the entrance of the beetle iuto the tree by needlessly 

 meddling with, and disturbing, the branches thereby exposing the 

 tender surface which offers an inviting entrance. There are estates 

 where this pest is very active and it may be necessary in such to employ 

 beetle-catchers ; but they should have the strictest instructions and 

 supervision. Beetle-catchers were regularly employed on a monthly salary 

 on an estate when I took charge of it a few years ago. These men 

 were promptly discontinued by me although it was with apprehension 

 I looked at the strings of beetles hanging in the store verandah. I 

 have no reason to regret my action. The black beetle is comparatively 

 harmless in itself, but it often paves the way for the red. The fermented 

 sap, exuding from the whole drilled by them, attracts the red offender. 



The Black Beetle. 



The black beeetle is more easily got at and should be regularly 

 hunted. By their destruction there should be a corresponding 

 diminution in the numbers of the red. One should not be in too 

 great a hurry to cut down a tree attacked by the red beetle. If 

 discovered in time, the tree, with careful treatment and periodical visits, 

 can be saved. Where the damage is great, and the heart affected high 

 up—a sure indication of which is the falling off of the tender spike— the 

 only course is to chop up the tree, destroying all beetles and grub, and 

 finally burning it. There should be no delay, as it would result in the 

 escape of beetles to the subsequent loss of other palms. The fallen trees 

 at Batticaloa led to a useful discussion regarding the life history of the 



