October i, 1889,] THE TROFIOAL 
mtneoLTURisT. 
271 
THE COCONUT BEETLE AT THE STRAITS. 
On Saturda> we published the text of a Bill 
which has been drafted with the view of crushing 
out, or at least greatly mitigating, _ a pest which 
has been found dangerous to a considerable Singa- 
pore industry. Everywhere in Singapore, but more 
especially near the shores, are to be seen great 
plantations of coconut trees, and from the owners 
of these there has long been complaint of the 
ravages of certain beetles which are now dignified 
with the names " oryctes rhinoceros " and " rhyn- 
chophorus ferrugineus," The beetles are as 
deadly as their awful names would imply, and 
almost since he arrived in Singapore, Mr. Bidley, 
the Director of Gardens and Forests, has been 
engaged studying their habits, alike in the coconut 
plantations and in the laboratory ; while from all 
sides he has been having suggestions as to the 
origin, cause, and habits of the insects. The result 
is a Bill which has been drafted by Mr. Bonser 
from Mr. Bidley's notes, and which will be intro- 
duced into the Legislative Council as soon as 
possible. The theory of the Bill is that the beetle 
breeds in accumulations of decaying rubbish 
generally, but particularly in dead or decaying 
coconut trees, and also now in trees that are not yet 
dead but which have been successfully attacked by 
the insect. The Bill therefore provides that the 
owner of any coconut tree attacked by the beetles 
shall cut it down and " consume it with fire "— ' 
which latter, by-the-way, is a troublesome thing to 
do, for coconut timber does not burn easily. As 
this compulsory destruction is for the public, as well 
as for the individual, benefit, the owner, if in needy 
circumstances, may be paid compensation to the 
amount of five dollars a tree. Further, the Bill sets 
forth that no person may keep on his premises 
"dead coconut trees or stumps or other accu- 
mulations of refuse or other matter which 
would be likely to harbour the said beetle," and it 
imposes penalties for so doing, and gives the Garden 
and Forests department power to remove such re- 
fuse at the offenders' cost, and to enter on land for 
such purposes. The rubbish clause, it may be noted, 
may be used to remove the stuff which is accu- 
mulated in certain tanneries, and which is alleged, 
although of that we are not sure, to be a 
fruitful breeding place for the coconut beetle, 
There can be little doubt that this Bill will meet 
with general approval, even if there be a demand for 
amendment in detail. In theory it is much the 
same as the home legislation which is intended to 
protect animals from certain contagious disease, 
and from the same legislation the principle of 
compensation is probably borrowed. No doubt there 
may be some difficulty in enforcing all its provisions, 
but that of course is merely a matter of employing 
an efficient staff. The object to be attained, the 
stamping out of the coconut beetle, is of importance, 
and is indeed essential to the profitable continuance 
of. an industry in which a great many deserving 
people are interested ; and we will all be glad to 
hope that the provisions of the Bill will have the 
effect desired.— Straits Times, August 19th. 
[The object sought is very desirable, but we 
doubt if it can be attained by the heroic 
legislation proposed, and the sanction of whioh by 
the home authorities we doubt. The law is open 
to tho objections that it might be used as a means 
of oppression, and that, if strictly enforced, the 
keeping of manure heaps for the fertilization of 
lands will become impossible. — Ed.] 
THE COCONUT BEETLE BILL. 
The chief feature of the measure, which has been 
drafted by tho Attorney-General, with, wo understand, 
the assistance of Mr. Ridley, the head of the Forest De- 
partment, is the cutting down and burning of all coeo- 
anut trees attacked by beetles. We have the authority 
of a very experienced planter for saying that it is not 
only quite unnecessary, but also would be absolutely 
ruinous to adopt such a course. It is quite impossible 
to keep beetles out of coconut trees altogether. They 
exist in every plantation, but, with proper care, do 
little harm. On many large estates coolies are kept 
for the purpose of catching and destroying these in- 
sects ; on others the owners contract with the pluckers 
to examine the trees when collecting the nuts, and 
destroy the beetles. With these precautions, though 
beetles are always there, they do little harm. On the 
other hand there are plantations where little care is 
taken, and the trees suffer accordingly. Even, how- 
ever, where plantations are badly attacked, if the 
owners set resolutely to work destroying the beetles, 
the trees will soon recover and give as much fruit 
as ever. This being the case, it would be cruel to enforce 
the destruction of trees simply because they are at- 
tacked. It would mean unnecessary ruin to many. 
While pointing this out, however, we by no means 
think that legislation on the subject is unnecessary. 
Owing to ignorance or some other cause, a vast number 
of trees are being destroyed by beetles, without any 
effort on the part of their owners to preserve them ; 
and as these trees become breeding places for beetles, 
which swarm into and attack the young trees in neigh- 
bouring plantations, it is necessary that measures be 
taken to deal with the owners of plantations who do not 
attend to them — not for their own good, but for the pro- 
tection of their neighbours. Badly kept plantations, how- 
ever, are neither the only, nor the worst, breeding places. 
The beetles breed principally in manure heaps, chaff 
thrown out from mills, and such like rubbish. This has been 
recognized by those who drew the bill, and there is a 
most useful clause dealing with people who, after re- 
ceiving notice from the Director of Gardens and Forests 
to destroy such heaps, still keep them on their premises. 
We are glad that Government is taking the matter up. 
It is of great importance to the colony, and particularly 
to this Settlement, to protect coconut trees from the 
ravages of beetles; and although the bill is faulty, 
it is on the right lines. — Pinany Gazette. 
THE PEOPOSED COCONUT TREES 
PBESEBVATION OBDINANCE. 
The provisions of the draft Bill published in the 
Government Gazette of the 16th instant for the " Pro- 
tection " of Coco-nut trees from the "ravages of 
certain beetles," savour very much the recommeuda- 
tions of our local contemporary for getting rid of 
hydrophobia, and we are exceedingly sorry to be 
obliged to comment adversely on the proposed mea- 
sure, because its provisions are not only drastic and 
unreasonable, but such as will never secure tbe end 
the Bill has in view. By the 2nd section of the 
proposed Ordinance the " owner or person in charge 
of every coconut tree which is attacked by the beetles" 
is required " forthwith to cut down such tree and to 
consume it with fire so that the beetle and all eggs 
and larvse thereof may be totally destroyed." No 
person at all acquainted with the management of 
coconut plantations or of trees that are attacked by 
beetles would make a demand of such an unreason- 
able and absurd nature. In this Settlement cocoaut 
plantations are mostly owned by Chinese, and it is 
naturally to the interest of every such owner to 
protect his trees not only from the ravages of 
beetles, but everything else that may affect them 
injuriously. Hence every proprietor of a cocouut 
plantation provides himself against these drawbacks. 
In tho case of attacks by beetles, the owners either 
have in their employ a number of men who have 
made, the matter their special study, or engage tbe 
services of such as they may require; these men are 
employed in examining the trees, destroying the beetles 
as well as their eggs and larvie, and in stuffing the 
places attacked with a quantity of salt and earth, 
