328 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



HI.uk or Lalang Grass. 



A TROPICAL WEED PEST; WITH MEASURES FOR COMBATTING IT. 

 By the Hon. John Ferguson, c.m.g. 



The "Illuk" grass of the Sinhalese is the Imperaia arundinacea of 

 botanists, of which the late Dr. Trrmen tells us that it is "common in the hotter 

 parts of the Island— the panicle being silvery white." A pest (he adds) in ground 

 that Las gone out of cultivation. The leaves make an excellent thatch, in this 

 respect resembling "Mana" grass which indeed is a name often given by Tamils 

 to "Tlluk." It is found, I believe, in every province where coconuts are cultivated. 

 In the Chilaw district, under favourable conditions it grows freely to a height of 

 from 4 to 5 feet, and the roots go down quite 12 inches into the soil, the grass 

 growing thick and close. 



The manuscript of the article below by Mr. Frederick Ponsf ord of the Federated 

 Malay States was sent to me a short time ago by Mr. Colin Murray, who continues 

 to take a great interest in the advancement of Ceylon, and who thought that this 

 paper, if published, would be of service to coconut planters, especially in the 

 Batticaloa district. I do not suppose, however, that planters are Avorse off for 

 illuk there than in some parts of our Western districts ; and I thought it best, 

 before publication, to get the opinions of a few practical planters of experience 

 within reach ; their comments follow below, and include those of Mr. W. H. 

 Wright, the veteran Mirigama planter, Mr. William Jar-dine, another very experienced 

 planter, and Mr. Gerald T. Nicholas of Golouapokuna Estate, Katunayake, who 

 has favoured me with some useful details of" his mode of dealing with illuk. 



From '• Notes on Grasses growing in Ceylon" by the late W. Ferguson, F.L.S., 

 I quote ihe following description : — 



Imperata Arundinacea, Cyrill l. cylindrica, Beauv. Lagurus cylindricus, 

 Linn, is the large European form of this plant ; Sir W. Munro, Lin. Jl. 6, p. 48. 

 This has a large number of botanical names and has been described by several 

 authors. It is vhe famous Hook of the Sinhalese, the Lalang of Java, Weri of 

 AmboiuM, Alang-Alang of the Malays, and is well-known as a great pest in some 

 places. It is common in Ceylon from the sea-coast up to several thousand feet 

 elevation, and in consequence of the great depth to which its underground stems 

 extend, is most difficult to eradicate once it gets into a coffee estate or other culti- 

 vated ground. On some of the coconut estates beyond Negombo, it was got rid 

 of by penning cattle over it. It is used for thatch in Ceylon. "It is a native of 

 moist stiff ground, and particularly common in Bengal, where the fields are white 

 with its tall silvery spikes when in flower after the first rains in April and May. 

 Cattle are not fond of it, particularly when old. It is used in the marriage cere- 

 monies of the Telingas. In Bengal it is much used as thatch."— Rox. Fl. Ind. I, 

 pp. 234-235. It is a native of Southern Europe, Northern Africa, Senegal, all 

 India, and Chili. 



I would also refer to the report of a Badulla planter, contained in the 

 Tropical Agricultut ist for May, 1894, where he shows how seven acres of coffee choked 

 by illuk grass and fern were treated with success. First he dug it all over, between 

 the coffee, to a depth of 18 inches, removed the roots and burnt them; and the 

 coffee prospered amazingly thereafter. He had also tried coolies with gunny bags 

 over their hands, to pull out the stems or blades of the illuk and by repeating 

 this weekly, for two months, he exhausted the roots of all nourishment and they 

 then rotted awaj r . 



