20 
The Straits Plantations Co., 
Bagau Datoh, 
Tel uk Anson, 
12th Nov., oj. 
Dear Sir, 
We have found pique and live adult coconut beetles in the 
soil together with these grubs, so I think there can be little doubt 
that many of the grubs found are those of the coconut beetle. We 
have also found in the soil the beetle which I take to be the one 
you mention ( Xylotrupes Gideon) together with very similar grubs. 
This beetle is of lighter colour than the rhinoceros beetle, and has 
what 1 should describe as a double horn. It hisses furiously when 
caught. We have these also on the branches of coconut trees but 
never in the young shoot, and I do not think that it does any damage. 
I am very glad to say that the result of the flooding is extremely 
satisfactory a*s the number of beetles brought in has been very 
greatly reduced. Formerly 2 men were bringing in 50 or 60 a day 
between them, and now, with 4 men working, only from 10 to 15 
beetles are brought in per day. 
Owing to other reasons we have been obliged to let the waler 
off, but I am afraid that if we are to cope successfully with the 
beetle we shall be obliged to flood the whole estate periodically. 
In the native kampongs about here very little drainage is clone 
and the places are consequently very wet and they suffer very 
little damage from beetles. 
Again thanking you for your letter. 
I remain, 
Yours very truly, 
W. DELL. 
KNOTS ON PARA RUBBER TREES. 
From Mr. Burn Murdoch, 1 have lately re ceived some knots or 
burrs from Para rubber trees sent him by Mr. C. Gordon BROWN of 
Selinsing Estate, who feared that they might be due to the Ceyh n 
canker fungus. These knots are very common in Para rubber trees 
as well as many other trees especially those with smooth bark. They 
consist of balls of wood easily detached from the trunk, by a blow 
and are covered with bark. The wood is perfectly sound, white 
and hard, and there is no signs of decay in or round them. They 
are perfectly harmless and have no connection with any fungus or 
insect-bite but are due to the irritation caused by suppressed buds 
in the stem. They often appear on a lapping mark. The cut 
having been made through or close to a b'lid, it commences to 
grow but does not develop and is covered up again by the growth 
of wood over it. The only objection to them is that they ofu 
