ioo"S 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [June i, i88z. 
3. I believe, however, that the main facta regard- 
ing the natural history of grub are pretty completely 
known, and, failing the special appointment of an 
Entomologist, I would suggest that the Committee of 
the Planters' Association draw up a succint and plain 
statement of the points in connection with the insect 
upon which they require information and advice, especi- 
ally what have beeu the remedial measures hitherto 
employed and in what respects they have been found 
wanting. If this is forwarded to me I have good 
reasons for believing that I can obtain from the prin- 
cipal authorities on economic entomology at home 
answers and suggestions which may prove of service. — 
I am, &c, (Signed) Henry Trimen, Director. 
MORE ABOUT " GRUBS" AND THE MEANS 
OF THEIR DESTRUCTION. 
With reference to the resolution about white grub, 
passed at a late meeting of the Maskeliya P. A., 
which we publish today, we learn that the Colombo 
firms interested have already been addressed on the 
subject. It is undoubtedly of the first importance 
that steps should be taken in concert to fight this 
pest, and it is only by combined action on the part 
of the Colombo agents and the resident proprietors 
that anything approaching a general victory can be 
gained. It is now almost too late to commence 
catching the cockchafers this season, as it is principally 
while the hot weather lasts that their evening flight 
takes place, and by this time most of the eggs hare 
been deposited. It behoves, however, every super- 
intendent to satisfy himself, in the first place, whether 
his estate " has grub " or not ; for it is quite pos- 
sible for both the beetle and the grub to remain 
unnoticed until the result of the ravages of the latter 
becomes apparent in the going off of the coffee. 
Fortunate he who can decide this question in the 
negative. If, on the other hand, it should appear 
that the beetles are present, not a moment should 
be lost. Now is the time to act. Careful experiments, 
we are told, carried out by an experienced planter, 
during last season, have shewn that an application 
of lime at the root of the coffee trees has the effect 
of either preventing the eggs from germinating or 
driving the small grub away from the parts so 
treated; in any case freeing the ground of the pest 
to the great advantage of the tree, and helping the 
latter to recover condition at the same time. No 
doubt other applications could be recommended and 
might prove equally efficacious. More or less suc- 
cess has attended digging out the grub, covering 
the soil with sacking, etc., but, for a practical and 
at the same time comparatively cheap method, nothing 
has yet been attempted that can compare with lime 
applied as described. A ton of caustic lime per acre 
would be a very sufficient dose, and those interested 
can easily calculate the cost of such an application, 
which, of course, need only be applied where the 
grubs were known to be in force. It must, however, 
as we said before, be taken in hand at once, and we 
would urge upon all those in command of the purse- 
strings of any estate where grub is pronounced to 'je, 
to eanction an immediate expenditure for the purpose. 
THE CEYLON BOTANIC GARDENS. 
Through the courtesy of the Government we are able to 
give Dr. Trimen's elaborate and valuable report on the 
gardens under his charge. It will be seen that in regard 
to scenic beauty as well as utility great improvements 
are being made atPeradeniya, light and air being admit- 
ted by the thinning out of superfluous trees, to the great 
advantage in growth and beauty of foliage and blossom 
of those which remain. As well-trimmed grass plots 
are amongst the chief elements of attractiveness in 
such institutions, we hope the Director's demand for 
a good lawn-mowing machine will be favourably met 
by Government. The increase of carriage traffic on 
the roads shews that the Pendaniya gardens are in- 
oreasing in favour with the " driving " portion of the 
public. A "new South Garden " is being added in 
which trees are to be planted according to their nat- 
ural affinities. This is what was done at Buitenzorg 
in Java from the beginning, and the effect in some 
cases is astonishing : until we saw the screw pine 
compartment, we could not have believed that the 
world contained so many varieties of this curious plant, 
in Ceylon generally semi-aquatic and standing on nat- 
ural Btilts, as it were. The natural order to wbich 
our jak and breadfruit trees and the del belong was 
still more numerous and varied. In the new gardens 
at Peradeniya about 250 species have been already 
fully established, and the work is to go on. There is a 
new carriage drive from which ultimately will be viewed 
one of the best collections of palms in the world, for 
Dr. Trimen informs us that " palms grow here with a 
perfection that cannot be surpassed." This consoles us 
somewhat for the continued failure of all attempts to 
grow aquatic plants on the little lake. There are 
the shade and leaves of the gigantic bamboos aud the 
foul bottom of the water, In the Buitenzorg Gardens 
Victoria regia flowers very freely « but we found Dr. 
Treub agreeing with us that the flowers were scarcely 
superior to those of the ordinary water lily. The broad 
flat leaves were the striking features on the water in 
front of Government House, grounds which were 
"Verboden " to the general public, who were welcome 
to the botanic gardens. Through it indeed lies a 
thoroughfare, an avenue of grand old trees, which 
were well grown even when Stamford Raffles buried 
his first wife in their shade. 
What is said about the prickly rattan palms sug- 
gests the idea of cultivating these with sapan plants 
to form impenetrable fences for lowcountry estates. 
Woe to the human being or animal which attempts 
to break through a tangled mass of thorny rattan. 
Trinidad cacaos and their shade trees are to be grown 
together, with rubbers, varieties of coffee &c, and it 
seems a good idea to form nursery beds round a 
small circular water tank. Our planting readers will 
note that iron nails are apt to make serious wounds 
in trees in a damp climate, and that zinc labelsjwhen 
painted get quickly covered with dark fungi pro- 
ducing the effect of London smoke. Has Dr. Trimen 
noticed how rapidly lime applied to buildings in 
Colombo gets blackened as if with old age ? We sup. 
pose a fungus is responsible for this ? Where Hrimeti 
(kaolin or pipeclay) is applied to reepers near the 
seaside, the fungus which speedily covers the clay 
