Feb. 2, 1903.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
513 
tissue (unless in very young trees where the tissue is 
only slightly developed) except by means of a wound 
previously made. 
Some trees tapped somewhat severely about a year 
ago, and whose wounds are not yet healed over have 
b.^en noticed. At the time of tapping, they were quite 
free from ants, but now are very badly attacked. In 
this case the wounds are 6 feet from the ground, and 
the ants after constructing earthworks up to the 
wounds, have entered the tree at a point where they 
have not encountered any laticiferous tissue. On other 
trees they will construct earthworks up to a height of 
30 or 40 feet, sometimes more, in order to enter the 
tree at a pomt where the snapping off of a branch or a 
crack caused by the wind affords them a place of least 
resistance. 
There is also the fungus to bs taken into consider- 
ation ; recently determined by Mr. Masses of Kew, as 
a species of Helicohasidium, ' a root parasite, nearly 
allied to //. nompa , . . very destructive to the 
mulberry tree in Japan ' : and it is probable that the 
injured root proves an acceptable host to this fungus, 
which exists on the living tissue. There has been 
some discussion as to whether the loss of trees is attri- 
butable to this fungus or to the ravages of the white 
ants, or to both, but in the large majority of trees I 
have examined neither one nor the other could be said 
to have killed the tree. Had the trees been hilled by 
the fungus there would doubtless have been some 
indication of its presence some time previous to the 
tree falling over ; but, as already stated, at the time 
of falling the tree eenerally appeared to be in a robust 
condition, and I incline to the belief that the fungus 
had prepared the way for the ants, which by eating 
away the heart of the trunk had caused the tree to fall 
simply for want of support. 
Distanciivj. — A great dilierenoe of opinion exists on 
this subject, and at the present time this tree is being 
planted at distances varying from 10' x 10' (435 to the 
acre) to 36' x 36' or 33 trees per acre. Close planting 
is sometimes recommended as a means of obtaining a 
long straight trunk — a large tapping surface ' but if it 
results in a diminished girth, I venture to think it a 
mistake, for, as will be seen later, the lower part of 
the trunk yields the largest proportion of latex. In 
order to procure a good stout trunk, over-crowding 
must be avoided, and the tree allowed plenty of light 
and air, so that it may produce a maximum amount 
of foliage, for a well developed crown invariably 
results in a good strong trunk. Again, if the latex 
acts as a reserve material, as it sometimes supposed, 
upon which the tree can rely in ' hard times" we might 
imagine that the laticiferous tissue, i.e., the latex 
producing tissue, would be most fully developed in 
those trees with the largest crowns for the following 
leasoD, In dry weather, evaporation by means of the 
foliage take place at an enormous rate, and the greater 
the amount of foliage the greater the evaporation which 
occurs and consequently the greater the necessity of a 
large food reserve, and it is reasonable to presume 
that the laticiferous tissue will be developed in accord- 
ance with the requirements of the individual tree. 
I have noticed repeatedly that trees growing on the 
edge of a plantation, or in more or less isolated spots 
and consequently able to obtain a maximum amount 
of light and air have given by far the best returns. 
There does not appear to be any necessity to plant 
closely, even to ensure a tall tree, for Hevea seldom 
branches during the first two or three years of its 
existence, during which time it runs up forming a 
whip-like stem 20 to 30 feet high. To give some idea 
of the space required to allow this tree to develop 
itself, I may say that I have measured trees planted 
36' X 36' which were touching each other at the tops 
and producing a dense canopy, nine years from the 
time of planting. Assuming that the roots cover tho 
same area as the crown of the tree, which may be taken 
aa a fact, it will be easy to imagine what a struggle 
for existence must ensue when trees are planted to 
10' X 10'. It may however, be found, that although 
(be individual tree yields a amaller (Quantity ol lutes 
when close plantiog is followed, that the loss will be 
compensated for by having a large number of trees to 
the acre. This, however, remains to be proved. There 
is the undoubted advantage that the cost of weeding 
will be reduced by planting closely, while on the 
other hand it will necessitate a deal of extra labour 
when tapping operations commence. However, taking 
all things into consideration, I am of opinion that ia 
a country where land and labour is cheap, close plant- 
ing is false economy. 
INSECT PESTS AND FUNGOID 
DISEASES. 
Of insect pests by far the most troublesome and 
destructive is the 'white ant,' Termes c/estroi, previously 
referred to. With a view to exterminating this pest 
almost everything conceivable likely to prove beneficial 
has been tried, including lime, tar, arsenic, sulphate of 
copper, Jeye's fluid, etc., but up to the present nothing 
has been found which keeps the trees free for any 
length of time. Gondal fluid has recently been report- 
ed from India as an effectual remedy, but so far as I 
am aware has not yet been tried in this country : it la 
intended to experiment in this direction, 
The only means of protecting the trees at ''present 
seems to be by constantly harassing the ants by de 
stroyin^ their earthworks which they built'on the trunk, 
but although by this means the trunk of the tree is 
protected, the ants are still at liberty to attack the 
roots, which they often do, and thereby cause the death 
of the tree. 
A species of weevil, nearly allied to, if not identical 
with Jis?_yc/ats Zaferai^s, has recently been discovered 
eating the foliage of Hevea, the life history of which is 
given by Mr. Wray." In the beetle stage it feeds on 
the young foliage and when abundant is very destruc- 
tive. The only remedy is systematic hand-picking, 
which may be readily accomplished, as on the least 
agitation of the branch on which the insect is feeding, 
the insect falls to the ground and shams death, and 
may be collected and destroyed. So far this insect 
has only been noticed on one estate and as it breeds 
but slowly, should be easily kept in baud if a smart 
look-out is kept from the time of its first appearance. 
I'unyoid diseases are, so far as I know, restricted to 
the species previously mentioned. Whenever this 
fungus is observed precautions should at once be taken 
to prevent it from spreading, for it will probably ba 
useless to try and save the tree when once infected. 
An effectual preventative is to dig a trench all round 
the tree at a distance of 8 to 10 feet from the trunk 
and about 2 feet deep, taking care to throw all the soil 
removed from the trench towards the centre of the 
circle thus to throw all the soil removed from the 
trench towards the centre of the circle thus formed. 
A liberal dressing of lime or sulphate of copper should 
then be thrown into the trench and over the soil 
excavated ; this will arrest the growth of the mycelium. 
The dead tree should not be allowed to lie on the 
ground, but chopped up and burnt. 
■When a tree has been tapped I would strongly 
advise that a coating of tar be applied to the exposed 
wood, to the exclusion of rain which might lodge in 
wounds and lead to decay, and as a protection against 
the growth of fungi, which are always difficult to 
eradicate when once established, and in some casea 
are exceedingly destructive. 
EXTEAOTION OP THE LATEX. 
Under this heading the following points are dealt 
with, viz ; — 
1, Method of tapping : 
(((). Instruments employed. 
{b). The style of incision. 
(c). Area of trunk to be worked. 
(((). Length and distance between the inci. 
sions 
Perak Museum ^'otes, II., Part I. (IS07 ) 
