484 
THE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST. 
[Jan.  I,  1897. 
Bceaary,  and  a fine  view  of  the  sea  can  be  obtained 
from  some  points  in  the  gardens.  In  the  burning 
of  the  large  central  factory  at  Kearnsey,  110,0001b. 
of  tea  was  destroyed  at  the  same  time.  It  is  es- 
timated that  the  total  crop  of  Notal  tea  this  season 
will  not  be  more  than  700,0001b.,  but  next  year  it 
is  hoped  that  one  million  pounds  will  be  made. 
The  greater  portion  of  the  tea  is  consumed  in 
Natal  itself.  The  planting  community  are  en- 
deavouring to  introduce  their  teas  into  the  South 
African  markets,  specially  into  Johannesburg,  but 
this  town  does  not  take  kindly  to  it.  Ceylon  teas 
are  getting  firmly  established  there,  and  in  many 
Other  parts  of  South  Africa.  It  is  a matter  of 
surprise  that  no  efforts  are  being  made  to  push 
Indian  teas  in  this  quarter  of  the  globe.  Natai 
planters  have  many  difficulties  to  contend  with, 
their  chief  trouble  being  the  cost  of  their  labour 
supply,  which  is  far  too  expensive.  It  is  not  pro- 
baole  that  the  tea  industry  in  Natal,  as  conducted 
at  present,  will  ever  attain  sufficient  proportions  to 
be  included  as  an  important  factor  in  the  tea  trade 
of  the  world.  The  planters  are  very  jealous  of  each 
other,  and  very  reticent  as  to  their  affairs.  They 
will  not  supply  figures,  so  it  is  extremely  diffieult 
to  know  what  progress  is  really  being  made.  If 
they  were  not  so  bound  up  in  their  own  ideas, 
and  would  accept  of  kindly  advice,  they  would  do 
well  to  engage  the  services  of  experienced  planters 
and  tea-makers  from  this  country.  Judging  from 
accounts  received,  they  lack  knowledge  and  ex- 
perience of  both  planting  and  manufacture.  They 
are  importing  the  latest  and  best  types  of  machi- 
nery, but  have  no  system.  Without  experi- 
enced men  to  lead  and  direct  them,  they  cannot 
hope  to  make  satisfactory  progress,  and  their  best 
efforts  are  bound  to  end  m disappointment. — fwlian 
Planters  Gazette,  Dec.  12. 
ENEMIES  OE  THE  COCONUT 
TEEE  IN  MALA  BAD. 
A Correspondent  of  the  Madras  Mail  writing 
with  regard  to  the  ravages  of  the  Ehinoceros  Beetle 
on  coconut  estates  in  Cochin  siys: — Of  coleopterous 
beetles  that  are  destructive  to  coconut,  palmyra 
and  areca  trees  in  Malabar,  there  are  three  varie- 
ties, one  being  already  named.  That  one  belongs 
to  the  genus  dynastide  and  is  easily  distinguished  by 
its  geniculate  horn  which  has  given  it  its  title  of 
Rhinoceros  Beetle.  Another  species  is  the  hiitoccra 
rubus.  with  two  very  long  antennoe  and  with  great, 
long  legs.  It  is  commonly  called  the  Coconut 
Beetle.  The  third  variety  is  the  calandriiin.  jiahna- 
rum  or  Coconut  Weevil.  The  natives  call  all  three 
vanities  chclle,  that  is,  fleas.  Between  these  three 
robust  little  creatures  thousands  of  coconut  trees  and 
coconuts  are  annually  destroyed  and  human  ingenuity 
has  not  yet  been  able  to  devise  any  very  successful  or 
practicable  means  of  getting  rid  of  the  “ hercu- 
lean" pests— I say  “ herculean,”  because  such  is 
their  strength,  and  such  also  is  the  title  by  which 
some  entomologists  have  called  them.  The  two  latter 
kinds  do  not  seem  to  be  so  much  dreaded  by  the 
garden  farmer  and  toddy  tapper  in  Malabar  as  ihe 
other  species,  but  all  three  are,  I should  think,  equally 
destructive.  The  larva  of  the  Coconut  Weevil 
abides  in  the  leaf  bud  and  goes  through  its  trans- 
formations there,  the  fibres  surrounding  the  pith 
providing  excellent  material  for  the  cocoon.  However, 
before  the  cocoon  has  been  formed,  the  larva  which 
has  been  steadily  at  work  has  eaten  pretty  well 
through  tho  heart  of  the  tree,  practically  des' royin;;  it. 
The  cocoon  soon  gives  pla.  e to  the  chi  j s Bis.  Then 
in  a little  while,  out  comes  the  perfect  beetle  and 
escapes  to  bring  more  evil  larvae  into  the  world.  The 
hutocera  inchus  is  still  more  wicked,  for  it  instals  itself 
at  the  very  base  of  the  trunk  of  the  tree  and  the  re 
deposits  its  eggs.  Indue  time  comes  the  grub  which 
eats  its  way  up  to  the  very  summit,  polishes  off  the 
leaf  buds  and  at  times  accounts  for  the  destruction 
of  the  whole  head,  spathe,  leaf,  stalks  and  all. 
Toddy  tappers  will  tell  you  that  (his  bei'tle  in  its 
perfect  form  cannot  effect  much  injury,  as  its  long 
feelers  prevent  it  from  moving  about  freely  among 
the  tender  leaves  and  flowers.  But  they  do  not 
seem  to  realise  the  vast  amount  of  havoc  that  the 
larviB  are  capable  of  committing.  The  Rhinoceros 
Beetle  works  in  quite  a different  method,  for  its 
larva  enters  the  cocoi.ut  tree  at  the  top  and  works 
downward,  gnawing  up  all  the  wood  and  fibrous 
tissue.  It  then  builds  its  cocoon  out  of  the  very 
refuse  it  has  created.  The  natives  say  that  this 
beetle  is  most  destructive  after  the  new'  rains  set 
in,  and  for  good  three  momhs  subseiiuently.  It  also 
proves  very  destructive  to  the  “cabbage”  in  young 
plints,  great  numbers  of  which  are  tlius  irrecover- 
ably damaged.  When  the  spadix  appears  on  mature 
plants,  the  beetle  insinuates  itself  as  at  the  base 
of  the  stalk,  eats  through  the  enveloping  spathe 
and  destroys  the  whole  o'  the  promised  fruit.  Spring 
leaves  also  are  thus  largely  destroyed.  The  toddy 
tapper  carries  a long  iron  probe  whh  him.  and  if 
ever  he  spies  his  foe  inbedded  anywhere  in  tho 
trunk  or  frond,  in  goes  the  probe,  transfixes  and  draws 
out  the  remorseless  depredator.  During  the  day  time 
these  beetles  keep  out  of  the  way,  but  at  night  they 
emerge  and  start  their  destructive  pursuits.  The 
Rhinoceros  Beetle  in  particular  is  very  hir-ely  met 
with  hidden  in  the  soft  but  unwholesome  s>  il  of 
dunghills,  and  the  tapper  sometimes  searche.s  for 
his  enemy  in  such  places  and  destroys  it.  It  is 
interesting  to  note  that  the  refuse  of  the  horse  stale 
attracts  the  creature  more  readily  than  that  of  the 
cow  pen.  In  some  p.trls  of  Malabar  the  trees  are 
afforded  .some  relief  by  placing  sea  sand  or  salt  in 
the  midst  of  the  leaves  and  flower  sheaths.  This 
appears  to  scare  away  the  borer.  I have  not  heard 
of  any  device  in  these  parts  for  attracting  the  insects 
by  lighting  fires. 
Insects,  however,  are  not  the  only  enemies  that 
the  coconut  tree  in  these  p.irts  lias  to  bear  with. 
Bats,  flying  squirrels  and  flying  foxes,  tree  dogs  and 
toddy  cats  are  also  among  the  pests.  In  rural  parts, 
monkeys  also  are  very  destructive,  especially  to  toddy. 
As  for  the  rats,  they  either  build  nesis  in  the  tree 
tops  and  remain  on  tho  scene  to  do  damage, 
or  they  visit  coconut  gardens  in  large  num- 
bers by  night,  leaving  before  daylight,  after 
having  caused  sad  havoc  all  over  the  place 
I have  on  more  than  one  occ.ision  observed  at  early 
morn  the  intercs'.ing  eight  of  a coio  ly  of  rats  hurry- 
ing back  home  in  procession  after  having  had  a 
night  of  it  in  my  neighbour, s coconut  and  cashew 
garden.  Toddy  tappers  place  bamboo  sliding  traps 
among  the  leaves  to  capture  the  rodents,  or  hang 
large  tins  with  wooden  sticks  attached  loosely  to 
them.  When  the  wind  blows,  the  whole  concern 
makes  a noise,  and  the  rat  dreads  strange  noises 
which  he  cannot  account  for.  Flying  squirrels  and 
Hying  foxes  visit  tho  trees  at  night  for  toddy  and 
often  get  wofully  intoxicated  at  these  stolen  orgies. 
Tho  tree  dog  (mara  nai  of  the  natives)  has  a bushy 
tail  and  he  will  somehow  dip  tho  brush  in  and  get 
it  to  absorb  as  much  toddy'  as  possible.  Then  he 
will  pull  his  tail  out  and  suck  up  the  beverage. 
Toddy  cats  are  less  patient.  They  do  the  drinking 
awkwardly',  often  breaking  the  pot,  get  blind  drunk 
and  then  gingeily  drop  down  to  the  ground.  The 
monkey  on  the  other  hand  removes  the  pot,  has  his 
li!l  of  toddy,  and  then  throws  the  pot  awuy. 
— ^ 
CEYLON  TEA  CHOP  IN  1897. 
MAY  BE()^'E1I  l-iO  MILLION  LB.: 
SPECIAL  NEED  TO  CET  A'l'  THE  NEW 
MARKETS. 
“ You  have  to  face  an  incre.uso  of  1.7  million 
“ 11).  in  1897  over  the  expoitsior  1S9G,”  wrilcs 
a ])buiter  who  wanders  a good  deal  over  the 
country  and  knows  wlmt  he  is  .sayiiig.  If  he  is 
rigiit  in  his  anticipation,  our  exports  would  run 
foi  live  years: — |i,. 
I89:i. . 
1891.. 
189.'). . 
189(1. . 
1.897.. 
81,10ll.o(ll 
81,591,711 
97,989,781 
|Es.]  ..  l()7,000,0tK) 
lEs.J  122,(K)0,000 
