July a, 1894.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
S 
THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ENTO- 
MOLOGIST IN CEYLON. 
It seems passing strange that at a time when 
the Government of India bas expressed a readiness 
to appoint not one Entomologist, but two or three 
such scientists for the benefit of agriculturists 
throughout the o untry inoluding tea planters, 
Mr. Haly should virtually tell us — in his letter givfn 
elsewhere — that what has already bten doce in 
India removes the necessity for any appointment 
at all in Ceylon. We are, in fact, to go on de- 
pending on, and learning from India I "Annex- 
ation" — wiih all its dreaded drawbacks — would at 
least bring us the direct service of the Entomological 
and also of the Geological Staff of India. The 
fieri irncy that most marts the official letters 
before u?, is the absenoe of any recognition of the 
needs of caconut as well as tea planters, and 
indeed of our native agriculturists generally. The 
accomplished Director of the Botanio Gardens 
writes as if only the tea planters were oonoerned 
whereas perhaps the question of insect pests is 
an even more vital one for the ooconut cultivator. 
After the devastation (even though temporary) 
wrought on certain tea estates some months ago 
— and all that we have seen of the ravages of 
the coconut beetles — it scarcely does, in our 
opinion, to speak lightly of our insect enemies in 
Oeylon. 
But it is not so much in reference to lack 
of knowledge regarding local inseot pests among 
the agricultural community, that the Government 
might well be requested to take action. We 
know that the hope of a great many planters in 
urging the appointment of an Entomologist was 
that the offioe might be associated v. ith certain 
legislation by which careless agriculturists could be 
oompelled — on the report to Government of a 
responsible officer — to do their duty in capturing or 
killing any pest, or in clearing away debris calcu- 
lated lo afford a breeding-ground, Our series of 
articles in referenoe to the effeci of euch negleot on 
coconut cultivation will not be forgotten by our 
readers, or the practical illustration niforded in the 
oase of Mr. W. H. Wright of Mirigama, who is in 
the habit of paving the owners of native gardens 
adjoining his property, for the privilege of entering 
on their grounds, and taking and burning beetle- 
infeBted palms at the rate of AO oents per tree. Now, 
owners who do their duty by their land ought not to 
have such a tax imposed on them, and indeed verj often 
native neighbours are not accommodating enough 
to allow entrance to their grounds on a destructive 
mission, even for a consideration. And, moreover, 
natives are not the only culprits. From ihe Kelani 
Valley last year and early this season there came 
several oomplaints of estate owners or managers 
who seemed so inert or indifferent about capturing 
helopeltis, that their more energetic neighbours 
felt as if their labour was in vain, since the 
pest, multiplying on adjacent tea, flew in to the 
bushes which had been cleared. If we remember 
rightly, Mr. G. A. Talbot published a letter on the 
need of simultaneous and sustained effort in a 
campaign against the ohief inseot enemy of tea ; but 
it is most difficult to secure this desirable end; 
and practioally impossible, save under offioial influ- 
ence, where natives are concerned. 
It will be asked then what should the Sub- 
Commi'tee or Committee of the Planters' Association 
do in the face of the rather discouraging letters 
from the three " Direotors," and the evident disin- 
clination of our Government to follow the example 
of that of India ? Well, if we were in their 
place, we should act on the principle— ' Belter 
half a loaf than no broad." We would acoept, 
and baok up, Mr. Haly's recommendation that an 
Entemologioal Referee in the person of Mr. E. E. 
Green of Pundaluoya should be appointed by 
Government ; but apart from fees for speoial work 
we think the Government ought to pay a certain re- 
taining fee, of at least Iil.OOO per annum, to enable 
Mr. Green to deal with general inquiries from native 
as well as planting and other correspondents, and 
to impart information in such cases. Mr. Green 
can scarcely be expeoted to charge a lee for each 
letter, and yet references are sure to be made to 
him which can be dealt with by correspondence 
without any personal visit. Later on, and arising 
out of Mr. Green's work as a Visiting or Inspect- 
ing Entomologist, may come up the question of 
whether there ought to be any speoial legislation 
to enforce a prompt and uniform campa : gn against 
the insect enemies of tea, coconuts, paddy or any 
other ptoiuot. 
THE PROPOSED ENTOMOLOGIST FOR 
OEYLON. 
THE OPINIONS OF DB. TBIMEN, MR. HALY 
AND MR, CULL. 
Kandy, June 20. 
Sib,— I enclose for publication oopy of corre- 
spondence with Government regarding the appoint- 
ment of an Entomologist for Ceylon.— I am, sir 
yours faithfully, A. PHILIP. 
Secretary to the Planters' Association of Ceylon. 
Kandy, Feb. 28th. 
To the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Colombo. 
Sih,— I have the honour to submit for the consider- 
ation of Government the atnexed copy of a resolu- 
tion pessed at a recent General meeting of the Plan- 
ters' Association of Cejlon. — I am, sir, yours most 
obedient servant, 
(SigDed) A. Philip. 
Secretary to the Planters' Association of OeyloD. 
EESOLTJTION REFEBEED TO, 
That the Government bo asked to arrange for the 
appointment of an Entomologist to be attached to 
the Colombo Museum. 
Colonial Secretary's Office, Colombo, March 10th. 
Sih,— With reference to jour letter dated the 28th 
February 1894 submitting oopy of a resolution, passed 
at a recent general meeting of your Association, reques- 
ting the Government to arrange for the appointment 
of an Entomologist to be attached to the Colombo 
Museum, I am direoted to request you to be so good 
as to Btate for the Governor's information what class 
of officer the Assooia'ion desires, what salary should 
be paid to luni whether he should be paid by the 
AsaooiatioD, or by the general taxpayer, what shonld 
be his duties, what are the special objects to be 
eerved by the appointment in question, wnai are the 
present difficulties in now obtaining information on 
the subjects to be dealt with by the Entomologist, 
whether the officer should be permanently employed 
or for a term of yeais only, and any other inform- 
ation wbich in the opinion of the Association would 
enable the Governor to arrive at a decision on the 
subjeet. — I am &o. 
(Signed) H. Hay Camebon, for Colonial Secretary. 
The Secretary to the Planters' Association of Cejlon. 
Kandy, 20th April 1894. 
To the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Colombo. 
Sir,— Having hid your letter of the 10th ultimo, 
on the subject of a Government Entomologist for 
Ceylon lefore the Committee of the Planter*' Asso- 
ciation a Sub-Committee was appointed to reply to 
yoar enquiries. 
