520 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
[Feb. 1, 1904. 
DESTROYING WHITE ANTS IN 
PLANTATIONS. 
The following methooa for the desfcruotioa of white 
ants in plantation? and orchards are contained in 
a letter on the snliject, written by Mr. A. N. Peaison, 
Director of Agriculture, N*tal, to Mr. Pepwoith, the 
Conservator of Foveft?, Nfltal : — 
The methods of copii)g witb white ants may be con- 
sidered under thiee heads, as follows : — 
Ist. Clearing out the ants before planting the trees. 
2nd. Killing the ants after plantiiiCT the trees. 
3rd. Making the young trees distasteful to the ants. 
CLEAKINO OUT THE ANTS BEFOKE PLANTING THE TBEES' 
Of the above-mentioned three methods, the first may 
be regarded as fundamentally the best. If poisoned 
food were distributed over the ground some time 
before planting it is reasonable to suppose that practi- 
cally all the white ants would be destroyed. In those 
districts of India where the white ants attack the 
crops, the cultivators make balls of flour or other 
grain, mixed with arsenic, and place them in the fields. 
This poisoned food is e'»ten by the ants which first find 
it, and these ants when dead are eaten by their 
fellows, so that the poison is spread through the nests. 
Poisoned food is also conveyed by the working ants to 
the queens. In Natal the Grovernment Entomologist 
recommends the use of arsenical solution of sug;ir 
or molasses, (1 lb. of Arsenic and J lb. washing soda 
dissolved in 16 gallons water, then add 6-8 lb. coaise 
sugar or 4-5 lb. treacle), the same as is used for 
locust destruction. Mealie meal may be soaked in 
this and made into balls or cakes for distribution. 
These should be distributed over the ground, and 
may with advantage be covered with boards, sack', 
or even stones or earth. Sawdust may be used instead 
of mealie meal ; or old sacks themselves may be 
dipped into the poisoned molasses, and used with- 
out the poisoned meal. Mr. Fuller, the Government 
Entomologist, recommends that holes 2 or S feet 
deep be made by a crowbar, and filled up with saw- 
dust or meal soaked in the sweetened arsenical 
solution. The poisoned food should be laid about 
until all traces of auts disappear. The ground may 
then be regarded as practically cleared. 
This work of destruction may be assisted by the 
use of li-sulphide of carbon introduced into the nnts' 
nests. A hole may be bored by means of a fencing 
bar or crowbar to the centre of a nest, a length 
of pipe placed in this hole, a funnel placed in the 
top of this pipe, and 4 or 5 oz. of bi-sulphide of 
carbon poured down. The pipe should then be with- 
drawn, and the hold plugged up. The bi-sulphide, 
being volatile, will diffuse throughout the nest, and 
its poisonous vapour will kill the ants. 
KILLING ANTS AFTER TREES ABE PLANTED. 
When young trees are found to be attacked by white 
ants, then the ants may be poisoned either witb the 
arsenic mixtore as above described, or by means 
of bi-sulphide of carbon poured into holes around 
the trees. In using poisoned food, the material should 
be laid down here aud tbere near to the trees, and 
covered over with boards, sacks, stones or earth. In 
usitig the bi sulphide, two or three holes may be made 
about 12 or 15 inches away from the tree, and 12 or 18 
inches deep; and half an ounce of bi sulphide mny 
be poured down each hole by means of a pipe, and the 
holes immediately stopped up. 
Mr. Fuller suggests that young trees when planted 
out might be surrounded by a ring of poisoned sawdust, 
put into a shallow trench about 12 inches from the 
tree, the poisoned sawdilst consisting of 50 lb. saw- 
dust and 1 lb. arsenic made into a mush with treacle 
and a little water. 
MAKING TUE TREES DISTASTEFUL TO THE ANTS. 
In Borae of the cane-growing districts of India, 
where the seed cane is apt to be eaten by white ants, 
the ouUivators (according to Watt'a Dictionary of 
Economic Products) dip the ends of the seed cane in a 
liquid prepared with asafoetida, mustard oil caka, 
and putrid fish, etc. According to the same autho- 
rity, a Mr. Wray strongly recommended the use of 
petroleum, to the vapour of which white ants are said 
to have a strong antipathy, so much so, that if the 
ends of the seed oanes be dipped in water impregnated 
with petroleum, the white ants will not come near 
them. This method of protecting young trees appears 
well worth trial. Various kinds of dips mighc be 
employed for experiment. Kerosene suggests itself as 
the petroleum to use, though a nure vol.otile oil, 
such as gasolene, mi^ht perhaps be more suitable. 
A little of the water impregnated with the petroleum 
might also as an experiment be poured down the holes 
before planting the tree. 
THE] RUBBER MARKET IN 1903. 
SIGNS OP INCREASED DEMAND; 
Me ss'ca. S. Figgis and Co.'s annual report on the 
Indiarubber market says : — The activity in the markets 
and fluctuations in prices that we recorded in oar 
annual report for 1902 have been more pronounced 
in 1903. Early in the year the failure of a consider- 
able dealer who had made large bear contracts, 
but who was also importing to some extent, tended 
to an expectation of higher prices. Demand evefy- 
wbere showed signs of increase, and the oonsumption 
of all rubber was beyond the supply. Tyres for 
motors and other vehicles took very large quantities, 
and the general trade, both in America and Europe, 
has been very good. Consequently, stocks have been 
seriously reduced, and, at times, particularly small, of 
fine Para ; this, coupleii with considerable speculation, 
enabled holders to advance prices. But in September 
there w^s a wild upward movement (6d. to 9d. on fine 
Para and 3d. to 6d. on medium sorts), which was soon 
followed by violentjreactions, on the expectation of an 
early Para crop, and, though our visible supply is 
smal', oloaing prices are only 2d. to 3d. above those of 
last January, whilst Cameta and Island negiohead are 
2d. lower. In our last annual report we noted the 
falling off in supply of medium rubber ; 1903 has made 
it up ; but the increase in consumption still leaves 
reduced stocks. African has reverted to the larger 
quantities sent in 1901. Antwerp received from thd 
Congo 5,600 tons, against 5,300 tons 190J, 5,750 tons 
1901, and Lisbon has landed from Angola, Benguela, 
Loanda, Messamedes, &c., double that of 1902, viz., 
2,430 tons against 1,265 tons. Quotations as a whole 
have been well maintained, but the speonlation and 
great fluctuations in prices have been mainly in Par* 
kinds, and greatest in " fine." 
VISIBLE SUPPLY FOB 1904. 
The visible supply on January 1, 1904, of Para and 
Peruvian was 3,262 tons, against 3,365 tons last year, 
4,618 tons in 1902, and 4,139 tons in 1901 (including 
America 1,430 tons, against 1,365 tons last year, 2,005 
tons in 1902, and 1,865 tons in 1901). For the twelve 
months there was an increass from Brazil of 2,503 tons 
— about 31,070 tons from the Amazonas, against 28,590 
tons in 1902 (including Peruvian, visi Iquitos and 
Manaos, 4,050 tons, against 3,160 tons in 1902 and 4,000 
tons in 1901), and there has been a considerable 
increase so far in this crop, but not of ball and slab. 
The fine Peruvian has been better selected. Ball has 
sgaiu improved, and sold very readily ; slab fair. 
Bolivia sent us less, and in nice condition. Thedia-, 
tnibances in the Acre districts are over, and mora 
lubber is likely to come shortly. Mollendo — Moderate 
Hupplies, in good condition. We received but little 
Venezuela, via the Orinoco, but quality was fair. Fair 
supply of Geara, but little good clean. Manicoba — 
Much more, and was liked. Of Pernambuco and 
Assare larger supply, bat mostly sold at moderate 
