130 
SPICES 
CHAP. 
dies, and the planter in despair abandons the plantation, 
leaving the dying trees to infect the other plantations. 
It is imperative, therefore, to prevent the beetles 
from increasing in such numbers that it becomes im- 
possible to check them, and this can be done by 
destroying by burning all sticks that can furnish them 
with a breeding-ground. 
It is more difficult to prevent them from attacking 
the underground part of the stem. I observed, however, 
that the better class of cultivators were in the habit of 
covering the ground beneath the tree with cut grass, 
the common grass known in Malay regions as lalang 
{Imperata cylindrica) being the grass used, and that 
trees so treated suffered less from the beetles. This 
mulching also serves to protect the high -lying roots 
from the excessive sun-heat, and also supplies a certain 
amount of nutriment. 
If a tree, however, has got badly attacked, and it 
may be considered worth while to try and save it, all 
affected bark should be cut off and burnt, and tar or 
lime-wash liberally applied. The underground part of 
the stem, which is often difficult to get at on account 
of the close network of roots, could be treated by pick- 
ing over the soil and loosening it, and pouring over a 
strong solution of some insecticide, and mulching with cut 
grass or dead leaves. 
The Mango-Borer . — The caterpillar of a fairly large 
moth, which is commonly found in the Malay Peninsula 
boring in the branches of the mango tree, occasionally 
attacks the nutmeg when there are mango trees in the 
immediate neighbourhood. Probably this only appears 
when there are not sufficient mango trees for the moth 
to lay its eggs on, and may be classed as an accidental 
attack. 
Aphis or greenfly occurs occasionally on sickly or 
weak trees. 
A small pychid moth caterpillar, which makes a 
kind of case for itself out of bits of leaf, I have met 
with browsing on the stigmas of the female flowers. 
