November i, 1888.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
357 
both smooth-edged and serrated-t-dg. d knives are used, 
and sometimes u hook is employed somewhat resembl- 
ing a very small sickle. A reaping machine cannot 
be used with advantage, the plots being so v ry small, 
but a scythe of small size suited to the strength of 
the ordinary field coolie has been introduced an 1 fouud 
useful. The crop is tied in small sheave ; and aftfv 
boing exposed to the hot sun for a short time thresh- 
ing commences. Paddy is very easily threshed. In 
many places iu South India threshing is preformi d by 
striking the sheaf at Iho ear-eud on a block of wood, 
:i or 4 good strokes generally sufficing to sepirate all 
the grain from the straws. Sometimes short sticks 
are used for heating out the grain in the same manner 
as with a tUil ; but threshiug is usually done in the 
ordinary way by treading by cattle. Threshing 
machines have been tried but have not been found to 
perform the work in a much more satisfactory way 
than the process first mentioned ; the grain is so easily 
separated. It is very uuusual in South India, to stack 
crops of paddy. The prop is generally threshed im 
mediately after harvest. — Indian Agriculturist. 
♦ 
GUTTA. REGULATIONS. 
Extract from the State Council Minutes 
of 5th July 1888. 
The Resident lays on tbe table correspondence 
c nlaming recommendations of the Magistrate, Krian, 
and the Superintendent, Lower Perak, regarding the 
exportation of Gutta from the State, and says that 
about ssveu years ago an Order was issued to prevent 
the exportation of Gutta, because the trees were be- 
ing rapidly destroyed, and it was feared that they would 
be completely. 
It has now been found that so many Gutta trees 
are unavoidably destroyed by the extensi m of paddy 
ai d other cultivations, and by tin- colleeti rs of fire- 
wood, that it is impossible to protect the trees which 
remain, and it is tlierofore proposed to revive the 
industry, which would afford a means of livelihoo I 
to many settlers who are a* present entirely dependent 
on the paddy crop, bavin;; no other mod | of obtaining 
their living during the months preceding the harvest. 
Many of the poorer class of natives in Peak 
would also benefit by being allowed to resume this 
industry, which was carried on by them under the 
MaUy regime. 
After discussion, iu which tbe views of the Malay 
members were fully considered, i' is unanimously 
decided that thu collection of Gutta shall bo all owed 
to persons licensed by (ioverumont, such provision 
as is possible being made for the protection of the 
young trees, by the issue of an Order on the subject. 
The following Notification is submitted by the lie- 
sident, and approve, I by His Highness the Sultan 
and all tie' member* present: — 
It is hereby ootifie I that from the 1st October next, 
the prohibition on the Oollectiou and Export of (cult* 
will be removed, and Gutta of various kinds may 
be collected and cxpjrtod under thu following K ■- 
gulations :— 
1. Any porsou di «arous of collecting Gutta must 
first apply to the Pcnghulu of the district in which 
he resides for a certificate that he is the possessor 
of at least ouo icro of cultivated land within tbe State. 
2. Having obtained this certificate, the applicant 
may apply to the District Officer, who, after ascer- 
taining the extent and situation of the land, title 
under which it is held, nature of the cultivation, ho., 
and that all O ivornruout cluims upon it hive boon 
f nil v satisfied, miv grant to tbe applicant a license 
wbtoh will eutitlo him to collect Gutta throughout 
the state. 
8. A fee of §*i shall be payable for this liucusa, 
whioh shill bo goo I for one vear fin n the da'. • thereof, 
but shall n t b i tian-.ler.il le. 
-I. Malays born in the State of I 'wntk m ly Im ex- 
empted fiom the necessity of being the po««M?ors of 
one acre of I mil, and may obtain a puss to collect 
nnd export loittn upon produeing Mi , run ite of 
t be IVnghnhl of the district iii which they wore born, 
and on i's verification by the District Officer and 
on payment of the fee of S5- 
0. AH Gutta oollec'ed must, before being exported 
from tbe mukim, be reporti d to the Penghulu, whose 
certificate must accompany it to the port of cxporl 
(i. A roya'ty of one-tenth in kind or value will 
be payable at the port of export. 
7. Trees of the kind called "Gutta Kambong" 
may not be cut down, but the Gut ta must be drawn 
from them by tapping tbe bark only, and no Gutta- 
bearing trees, with the exception of "Siuggrip, " of 
less diameter than 8 inches within the bark, mav be 
felled, except in places where the land is required 
for planting, mining, or other industrial purposes. 
8. Infractions of th»se Regulations may be punished 
by fine not exceeding iglOO (One Hundre I ]) dlars), 
or by rigorous imprisonment not exceeding two 
mouths, with confiscation of Gutta. — Straits Times. 
DESTRUCTION' OE*CO0ONUT TREES 
BY BEETLES. 
Extract from the State Council Minutes 
of the 10th July 1888. 
The Resident invites the atteution of His Highness 
the Sultan and the members of Council to the de- 
vastation committed by beetles amongst 'he coconut 
trees iu Larut, Kurau, and Krian, where at one time 
there were a 1 irge number of trees, which in the for- 
mer place have been almost, and in the last-name] 
districts quite, exti rminated. 
This matter was before the Council last year, aud 
money provided in the estimati s. Major Walker 
undertook to endeavour to get the insect destroyed 
iu the coconut treo< near the barracks iu Taiping 
bnt could not find men willing to continue the woTk 
for 12S a month. 
Mr. Creagh, then Assistant Resident, called for in- 
formation from the Penghulus of Larut, who recom- 
mended a liberal use of salt among the branches of 
the trees, and filling up the holes alrea ly bored by 
the insect with the same material. 
Dr. Simon's letter of 23rd May, 1887, published 
in tbe Straits Settlements Government (iazette of the 
27th May, is read and explained to the Council, aud, 
after discussion, the following is pissed: — 
( treat loss having been sustained by the people in 
lu.uiy parts of the State through the destruction of 
their coconut trees by the ravages of beetles, and 
II. H. tho Sultan iu Council hiving ordered that 
steps shall he taken to prevent the spread o f this pest 
to such parts of the country as are not yet affected : 
It is hereby notified, — 
1. That tho owner of any trees which are affccUd 
shall be compelled to cloar tbe trees of these insects 
within throe moutbs of notice" given, under a penalty 
of SI for each tree so neglected to be cleared. 
2. Tho trees shall be inspected by Officers of Po- 
lice, in each district, aud, in case of the owners failng 
to clear them by the end of three months, the tree 
shall be cut down, split up, aud buruel. 
3. The SI fine for each tree being imposed in ac- 
cordance with paragraph 1 of this Order. 
The necessary expenditure for this work will be 
provided uuder a Supplementary Estimate as a Special 
Paym. iit. — Straits Times. 
♦- 
ABANDONED FRUIT TREES REVERT TO 
THU GOVERNMENT. 
Extract from the State Council Minutes 
of llth July 1888. 
The Resident lays on the table correspondence 
2,. r .5(l— IHns, datel 10th June, I S8S, containing a letter 
from the Sup rinteiulan', I, nver I'erak, relative to 
fruit trees which aro found iu the jungle, h.ving 
been formerly planted by casual settlors, n • owners 
for them boing known. The drnucil dine I s the 
Superintendent, Lower Perak, to bo Inptrnotel that 
such trees, whoro no owners can be trace I, ar • tho 
property of Government, mi l may be demised with 
the land on which they stand, and, should legitt. 
mate claims to the t.-.es bo establisel, mmpeasmlioii 
should be mado to tho owners, bit, in tv r «• of 
trees long uhindon -d, no such claim .■ • il l b<> 
allowed.— Sir nit! Times. 
