93 
grub turns into a small white moth. We found them laying eggs 
just like those on the coconut leaves about Tanjong Kling. (This 
is probably another insect as the moths bred were not white). The 
Malays say they will all disappear in a month or so and that they 
come every year. I have never noticed the trees looking like this 
before. The Malays do what they can by lighting huge fires under 
the trees but apparently without being able to stop the pest. ” 
Smoking the trees thoroughly seems about the best method of 
dealing with this class of insects. Spraying with an insecticide, 
such as phenyle, would probably be the most effective way of deal- 
ing with them but at present there are no spraying machines in 
the country which are sufficiently powerful to throw the insecticides 
high enough to deal with the coconut palms. 
I have never noticed this pest any where myself, but coconut 
planters should keep a look out for it. 
TOMATO DISEASE. 
Growers of Tomatos here frequently lose the whole stock of 
plants just as the fruit is showing signs of ripening. Usually in 
new ground the grower finds the first crop excellent and wonders 
why others do not always grow them. The second growing on the 
same ground comes up strong and apparently healthy, till just as 
the fruit is ripening the whole plant suddenly withers. This is due 
to one of the parasitic fungi which attacks the plant usually quite 
young, but does not kill it till the plant is full grown. The ground 
being now infected future attempts at growing tomatoes there are 
usually complete failures. 
Experiments in dealing with these fungus diseases were made 
not long ago by Mr. GEORGE MUSSEE ol Kew Gardens, and he 
gives the following practical directions for treatment. (Journal 
Royal Horticultural Society) — Commence watering the tomato plants 
when a* fortnight old every third day with a solution consisting of 
i oz. of sulphate of copper dissolved in 50 gallons of water. After 
treating for 6 weeks as above commence watering every fourth day 
with a solution of 1 oz. sulphate of copper in 35 gallons of water. 
The sulphate of copper should be pure and rainwater used if 
possible. 
It is shown that the copper does not affect the fruits, and that no 
more occurs in treated fruits than in untreated ones. It may be 
pointed out that the fruit itself should not be touched by the 
sulphate of copper for fear of accidents, and that these experiments 
having been made in a cold country 1, where the growth of the tomato 
plant is much slower than it is here, it will not be necessary to keep 
the treatment on so long. 
Editor . 
