June i, 1894.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
837 
against stripping the tree oi laavea and exposing 
the tender barlj. It is a most misohievouB opera- 
ticn and invites to attaok ; but you will liiid these 
are not the principal sufferers. I have had plants 
attaobei enveloped in a mass of leaf stalk and 
their almost impervious matted fibre. Whether 
oviposition was first at the root of the leaf-stalk 
or in a cr< cii in the stem it is difficult to say. 
The absence of a stem in one case suggested the 
former -, while the evil in another began in a crack 
in a stem of splendid girth. Qucere, may not the 
fat bulky stems which are the outcome of the free 
rich soil in the Chilaw district explain the spread 
of the enemy ? They oraok readily, and at once 
afford him lodgment and succulent food 1 
Of course, you know the Kuruminiya or black 
beetle is not considered fatal to a trep. I have heard 
it even spoken of as a blessing in that it gives the 
tree a shock by its excavations and hastens fruit 
bearing, before its departure for another feeding 
ground, The natives say thot it prepares the way 
for the Eandapanuwa, or red weevil, which has a 
most formidable pointed snout, and that the latter 
takes possession of the hollows vacated by its 
black friend. But I have known them work to- 
gether, as I have diEcovered them in the same 
host, and their larvoe too are different — those of 
the beetle being white and cylindrical like ihe 
ordinary dunghill grub, while those of the weevil 
are, I believe, the yellowish baggy fellows which 
taper towards the ends. The scientist might find 
abundant material for investigation in the life 
history and habits of the Enemies of the Coconut 
Tree and his aid cannot but be helpful in car- 
rying war into their camp ; but you have done well 
as a preliminary to sound a note of alarm. It 
must be followed up, as only active determined 
measures can check the plague. — Yours truly, 
PROPBIETOR. 
MICA SHEETS AS PROTECTION FOE 
PALM AND CACAO TREES. 
Haldummulla, May 8 th. 
Dear Sir, — Many thanks for so kindly noticing 
my letter re " Mioa " (see page 831}. I 
fear you take rather a doubtful vitw of my 
remedy regarding the enemies of coconut trees; 
I candidly admit as regards beetlet " mica " would 
prove futile. Referring to squirrels and rats I think 
it wowld prove successful. I post herewith one 
pound of mioa sheets 0 inches in length by 3 
to l inches in breadth. This quantity, I think, 
would be sufficient for say 18 trees and would cost 
about Bl 12o delivered in Colombo. The mioa 
should be fixed on the tree with tio-tacks. To 
illustrate my meanmg more clearly we will suppose 
the girth of a tree i ft from the ground measures 
3 ft and the mica is fixed there, allowing say G 
pieces for each tree which would cost about 7 cts. 
The cacao tree would not require more than 
two pieces of mica, and would cost about 3 cts. but 
in no case must a baud be filled near the ground 
as rats and squirrels invariably take a jump — niore 
especially when frightened. It is true that [quirrcls 
often li^e in cacao trees leaping from one tree 
to another in search of ripe pads, but surely it 
would pay to put on a largo force of ccolies for 
one day driving away the animals, and fixing the 
mica cii thu trees. Unce rid of these pests I do 
not think they could return. As regards shooting 
squirrels being cheaper 1 doubt it; but of course 
a trial wou'd prove.— Yoors truly, 
EDQAB aEA»LY. 
TEA PLANTING IN INDIA AND 
CEYLON. 
May 11. 
Deak Siu,— My attention has only today been 
drawn to a letter appearing in the C'cjlvn Observer 
of 7th lost, signed " European Emploj'ee,' (see 
page 833), in which he draws ooroparisocs betwixt 
India and Ceylon in the matter of management of 
t'.a properties. 
With a good deal of what he writes I quite 
concur, but I cannot help thinking that he has an 
ulterior motive in starting such a discuEsioo. That, 
in fact, he has an eye to a probable District 
Superintendentehip, or, at least, to an appointment 
as examiner of engines, boilers, &o., attached 
to tea factories. His remarks on the so-called 
" Visiting Agent" are very much (o the point, 
bub I submit that they are iu a great measure 
applicable to Ids so-called District Superintendent. 
I have always maintained that it is— or ought 
to be— highly satisfactory to both the Proprietor 
and the Superintendent that a report on the estate 
should be given once or twice a year by an Agent 
appointed by the Proprietor, but I have equally 
always maintained that there the duty of a Visiting 
Agent should cease. I quite appreciate the fact 
that a District Superintendent's services might, 
and would, be very useful in cases where '• creep- 
ers," after a few months' experience, were "shunted" 
on to a garden to manage or mismanage, on a 
salary barely enough to pay for an honest dish of 
curry and rice whilst the said District Superintend- 
ent draws a handsome salary ; but otherwise I 
should prefer to leave my garden in full charge 
of one responsible, experienced man on the general 
plea that " too many cooks," &o, 
As I have hinted above, I do not quite grasp 
what " European Employee" iB driving at, but 
it seems quite evident that ho has a great antipathy 
to the modern "creeper"! So have I— a very 
strong antipathy — so much so that I have, on three 
occasions, absolutely refused to be burdened with 
them, although I had the opportunity of pocketing 
£500 sterling had I taken them under my care. 
I am glad to find that " E, E." and I agree on 
this question. 
The question " E. E." raises with regard to the 
management of macbiceiy and construction of 
buildings is a large one ; and it is truly wonderful 
bow the average planter adapts himself to be almost 
"a jack of all trades.' Presumably he ''E. E," 
is a very compstent man, but his tone is too sneer- 
ing altogether, and detracts from his otherwise 
very sensible letter. He writes in too sweeping 
condemnation of our ordinary factory which, iu 
very many cases, is the old coffee store converted 
into present requirements, and as regards machin- 
ery, &c., well, wo have not yet been treated to an 
account of the /irat boiler explosion. Let us hope 
that ''E. E. ' always h»a his safety valves in proper 
working order, and that he may never fiud it 
necessary to hang a 5G lb. weight on the Itver, to 
increase the power of his engine, 
I really think that his remarks )v creepers 
should be given promirence to in the English 
papers as a warning to parents and guardians 
who contf mplate sending out freth drafts of " giraffe- 
nocked chippies." — Yours truly, D. L. 
BANDARAPOLA CEYLON COiMPAXY 
LIMITKD. 
Extracts from report for meeting on th i 26tl> 
April 1891. 
The Dirtctors have cow the pleasure Iu tubmit to 
the Shareholders tbo Aocoauts and Btlnice Sheet 
teprcientiag tbo working of the Company °g Kstttee, 
for the year I'nding Hist Dcceiiil>or, ISW, the I'ro- 
peitios haviog be«n t>k«n over (loui let January, 1^93 . 
