204 
THE TROPICAL AGEICULTLRIST. 
ants were burnt, and those that escaped took care not 
to come back. Precautions should, oi course, be taken 
against the file burning anything more than the nests. 
— Yours faithfully, 1^- 
[This remedy, if adopted, should certainly be 
tried only in wet weather. —E d. T.A.'] 
RED ANTS UN TEA : xV REMEDY. 
RED ANTS ON CxVCAO : HOW TO 
INTRODUCE. 
DExVK Sid,— M'hen the coti'ec trees were in- 
fested with Red Ants, I used to apply a few 
orains of arsenic dropped into their nests from 
above. In a day or two after getting a dose, 
they were all dead on the ground and about 
then nests. COEEEE PLANTER. 
[The above ought to suit Mr. Kirby^s case. 
—How true it is that what is one man’s meat 
(delight) i.s another man’.s poison (avcr.siou). 
A cacao planter in the lowcounlry has just 
been telling us how he welcome.s and even in- 
troduces red ants to his trees, regarding them 
*• the tigers of the insect world as mo.st 
useful in clearing away a variety of smaller 
but more injuiious insects. His way of intro- 
ducing led ants into his liehls is ingenioii.s. Eor 
a jungle walk he provides himself with a long 
stick” with a piece of meat tied along the 
end of it : when he wants red ants he thrusts 
this into a nest, the ants fix in the meat and 
will not leave it, and finally meat and ants are 
left on a cacao bush where the insect “ tigers 
make their future home. Our friend also mentions 
as a fact within his experience, the great fear 
ot the conii>aratively big red “ tigers 
one of the small ants so often found 
in simar ! He has seen a regular “ bolt of 
the former on one of the latter being dropped 
in their midst, and he has seen how the little 
fellow rushes at one of the big ones, fixes im- 
movably on his back and (quickly kills him. Can 
the smaller ants eject a poison with their 
bite? — Ed. T.A.] 
the risk of introducing red ants 
ON PLANTATIONS— OF CACAO 
ESPECIALLY. 
Eton, Pundaluoya, Aug. 5. 
De\K Sir, — W ith reference to the recent cor- 
respondence ’in your columns upon “ Red Ants,” 
I think a note of warning should be given 
against the too free adoption of the plan recorn- 
inetiiled by your lowcountry correspondent— who 
encourages and even intrmluces rod ants on Ins 
cacao trees. Although they will undoubtedly 
destroy many small insects ; on the other kand 
these socalled “tigers of the insect world 
(would not “wolves” be a better simile.) are 
most distinctly gdilty of encouraging the pre- 
sence of some of our most injurious insect pests. 
Their relations in connection with “ scale-iii.sects ’ 
and aphides have often been misunderstood. 
This same “red ant” was once before largely 
introduced into the cotl'ee distri 'ts by .some in- 
trenious individual under the mistaken idea— based 
upon imperfect observation of its habits— that it 
would prey upon and iinally exterminate the 
CJtl■ee-bu<^ ' This was an excellent arrangement 
for both”the ants and the bugs ; but the result — 
from the iilanter’s point of view-was not .so 
sitisfacfory. Firstly, the coffee vvas rem ered 
almost unapi>roachable liy the ferocity of these 
[Sept, i, 1897. 
supposed allies; and secondly, the “bug" in- 
creased and waxed fat, if ])ossible, faster than before. 
“ 8cale-bng.s ■■ and ajihides are to the ants what 
herds of milch cows are to us ; and, as such, are 
tended and cultivated most carefully. In return 
for the plentiful supply of “honeydew” yielded by 
their “ insect cattle,” the ants will defend them 
from their natural enemies. I have often noticed 
that “scale-bugs” attended by ants apiiear to be 
in a much healthier and jilumper comlilion than 
are those which are left to shift for themselves. 
Oolonies of “.scale-bugs” and “ mealy-bugs ’ are 
often included within the nests of the ants; and 
when the ants outgrow their (juarters and migrate 
to other parts, they carry -aitli them some of 
their cattle to form the nucleus 01 fresh herds. 
If tne ants are to be got rid ot, after destroying 
the nests, search should be made upon" the 
neighbouring bi-anches for any “bugs,” and these 
also destroyed ;— otherwi.se the ants will surely 
make their way back to the source of attraction. 
The fact that the small ■•sugar-ant” {Flarjiule/jin 
lonr/ipca) —one of the weakest looking of its kind 
— can attack and overcome the ferocious “reli- 
ant ’ yFcophi/lla siiiamrjdimi), is a most curious 
and interesting one, — and rather mysterious too. 
For the smaller ant is, to all appearance, with- 
out any efficient means of offence or defence. 
Its mandibles are comparatively small and weak, 
and it is unjirovided with 'a sting, but the 
fact has been ob.servsd more than once. 1 have 
been told by one very careful obseiver, of a 
regular warfare conducted between the smaller 
and the larger sjiecies, in which the former 
invariably come off victorious, to the gradual 
extermination or eximlsion of the latter. ' I have 
myself seen a large cockroach speedily colla^ise 
under the attack of three or four of these weak 
looking little ants. Possibly these natural ene- 
mies might lie employed with advantage in 
ousting the ‘red ants’ from anj' particular loca- 
lity where their presence ivas inconvenient. — Yours 
truly, E. E. GREEN. 
LACE HARK. 
Colombo, July 26. 
Dear Sir, — The June number of the Indian 
Agriculturist has the following reference to the 
lace-bark tree of Jamaica (Thymclwacca;, to 
which also belong the Sinhalese Naha and 
Walla — two indigenous libre trees):— “The tree 
producing the well-known lace bark of Jamaica is 
called in that island by the name of lagetto. The 
inner bark of this tree (the scientilic name of which 
is Lagctlii linteuria) consi.st.s of numerous con- 
centric layers of libres which interlace in all 
directions, and thus present a great degree of 
resemblance to lace. It is said that Charles 
II received as a present from the Governor of 
Jamaica, a cravat., frill, and a pair of ruffle.s made 
of this material, and it is to this day used for 
bonnets, collars, and other articles of' apparel by 
Creole ladies.” 
I have long been thinking whether the libre of 
another tree, belonging to i[uite a different natural 
order, vi/„ N'a\a (Sicrcidia Ila/caiidias) could not 
be used in the sail o vvay as that of the lace- 
bark tree. It ajipears .suitable enough lor 
hat-making work, as you will see from 
the accompanying samples of rough and 
prepared libre, and specimens which 1 have 
pleached as well as dyed in various colours. — 
Yours truly, C. DRIEBERG. 
[We shall forward the specimens of fibre to 
London for re[iort : they look very promising and 
attractive. — E d. T.A.} 
