March 1, 1904.1 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. C37 
COCONUT PLANTERS AND LEGISLATION. 
Marawila, Feb. 26. 
Paradoxical as it may appear, though plan- 
ters have a wholesome honour of the Law, yet 
they are always hankering after fresh legisla- 
tion,vide the procedings of the Planters' Asso- 
ciation. Now that coconut planting is engag- 
ing the attention of European phinters in 
the Eastern Province, fresh legislation is 
called for to keep beetles in check. I am in 
perfect agreement with Mr. Lushington. 
Even the Ordinance he proposes, requires 
many modifications. It is very suggestive, 
that though coconut cultivation is one of 
the oldest planting industries, and was ( n- 
gaged in by Europeans alnoost from its in- 
ception, the need for legislation was not felt, 
till a handful of Upcountry planters engaged 
themselves in it. I read with much interest 
the proceedings of the Kurunegala Asso- 
ciation on the life history of the red 
beetle. That veteran Coconut Planter, 
AV B L., who I am glad to see by his 
contributions to your columns, has yet the 
pluck and energy to start new plantations, 
when others of years will feel inclined to 
chant the Nunc Dimittis, was of opinion 
that the red beetle sought the crevices in 
the trur.ks of growing coconut trees, to lay 
their eggs. Mr Price, I read, is of the 
same opinion, This Mr Jardine warmly 
combated, and was of opinion, or rather 
stated as a fact, that beetles entered tlie 
trunk from between the branches. So 
careful and observant a planter would 
not have made this statement, unless 
he had warrant for it. I have not 
been a coconut planter for as long as 
Mr Jardine, but I can count 23 years' 
experience, 1 have not been unobservant. 
Whenever a young tree had its trunk injured, 
I invarialily found red beetle on tlie wound 
at nightfall, unless the wound was dressed 
with tar. I noticed further, that the sap 
which exuded from the wound, fermented 
and had the acid smell of toddy, and that 
this seemed to attract the red beetles, 
which simply swarmed on the wound. On 
the first tree I observed this, I, the next 
day, dressed the wound with tar. It was 
too late. The eggs were evidently laid, and 
the insidious work had begun. Fortunately, 
I never had anything to do with any estate 
which suffered to any appreciable extent 
from the attacks of red bsetle. But from 
my observation I concluded, that open pans 
with fermented toddy, placed at intervals 
whenever the attacks prevailed, would be 
a means of attracting and captu^-ing the 
beetle. Since this idea occurred to me, I 
read many years ago in the Straits papers, 
a suggestion being made, that green mangoes 
pounded and mixed with water, attract 
beetles. The same idea as mine, but only 
less feasible, as mangoes are not in season all 
the year through, while toddy unfortunately 
is. Nocturnal fires, too, will attract all kinds 
of insects, beetle included. 
I must not be misunderstood. I do not 
• assert that beetles enter the tiunks of young 
coconut tree only through the injured trunks; 
I have not noticed any other means of 
entrance. Growing coconut trees, when 
growing very vigorously, always have 
their trunks split open, owing to the 
outer bark being uu'ihle to keep 
pace with the expansive growth of the trunk. 
These are the trees that are constantly at- 
t.icked by beetles. I certainly th nk that 
when the discovery of an attack of beetles 
is made, the best thing to be done is to cut 
open the trunk and take out all the beetles 
and grubs. But I am very strongly of opinion 
that the usual methods of search do more 
harm than good, In the case of young 
trees that are making trunks, I once noticed 
on an estate that I visited, coolies remov- 
ing the sheaths at the base of the branches, 
both to search for beetles, and not to give 
them a hiding place. Injury must necessarily 
follow, with the consequence of an attack 
of beetles. The land was being gradually, 
but surely, cleared, not of beetles, but 
of vigorous, young coconut trees. I strongly 
advised the proprietor to desist the hunt 
for beetles, which in my opinion invited 
the attack, and to watch for results. These 
were not communicated to me. After scoop- 
ing at the trunk of a tree that was attacked 
by beetles, it was not possible to imme- 
diately tar inside, as it would be reeking with 
sap. Sand or earth — wliichever is more 
readily available - should be well rul bed on 
the inside, and then heated tar should be 
applied. After this, I have myself filled the 
trunk with ant-hill earth with which tar 
or crude carbolic had been mixed. All trees 
that have been killed by the red beetle, 
should have the trunk and the butt ends of 
the fronds carefully slit and all giub and 
cocoons removed and destroyed ; after which 
a bonfire should be made of the remains. 
It is best to cut the trunks level with ttie 
ground and then cover the stump over with 
earth, else the stump invites tlie attacks 
of beetles. 
THE INDI,\N TEA SEASON, 1903-4. 
The following are the total quantitiea from each 
district with the averages realised : — 
Season 1903-1904. Season 1902 1903. 
Average Average 
Paciages. per lb. Packages, per lb.. 
II. a. p. R. a .p 
Assam 131,976 0 6 5 117,709 0 6 1 
Caohar 140 877 0 3 4 127,427 0 4 6 
Sylhet 102,138 0 5 1 99, .533 0 4 5 
Daiieeling 49,975 0 8 2 34,550 0 7 9 
Terai 32,ii79 0 5 1 3J,960 0 4 3 
Dooars 140,304 0 5 9 135,221 0 5 6 
Chittagong 9,478 0 5 4 9,623 0 4 6 
Kangra Valley 70 0 5 6 351 0 4 9 
KuiUiion 1,249 0 5 0 2,366 0 4 2 
Chota Nagpore 855 0 4 9 1,435 0 4 0 
Dehra Doon 25 0 3 4 46 0 4 7 
Total 609,326 packages, 561,271 packiiges. 
The average price of the 609,326 packages sold 
since the 22nd M^y last is As. 5-10 per lb., as 
compared with 561,271 p.ickiges sold ia season 
1902 19( 3 at an average of As, 5-3 per lb. and 
531,923 packages sold in season 1901 1902 at As. 
5-5 per lb. 
Average Exchange. — For 6 months Docnmonts, 
Is 4 3 21d. 
Average Freight.— £1-12-6 per ton of oO c. feet. 
Messrs. Innes Watson & Co,, Brokers, 
