RUBBER TAPPING IN THE DRY SEASON. 
Mr. Larkin whose estate at Castle-wood I have recently visited, 
tells me that during the late dry month of March, all his trees in one 
part of the estate shed their leaves simultaneously and remained 
bare for a time. He continued to tap during this period and found 
no diminution in the amount of latex produced. 
There is a general idea that latex flows slowly or not at all 
during this period, and there was a certain amount of evidence for 
this in the experiments of the Botanic Gardens last year. Have 
any other planters tried continuous tapping through the resting 
season and with what result? — Ed. 
THE USE OF JERINGU 
Acorus Calamus against termites. 
Mr. MACHADO, lately sent some rhizomes of the Jeringu or 
Deringu ( A corns Calamus) a plant often cultivate d by the Malays 
for medicine. It is one of the Aroideoe ; an aquatic plant with 
swordlike leaves about 3 feet tall and an aromatic creeping stem. 
This is being used by the Malays as follows: — The dried roots 
are pounded to powder and spread round the base of the tree. All 
ants die and the otheis do not appear to come up to the surface to 
replace them, as in the case of other insecticides. Mr. MACHADO 
tried it for ten days and found it efficacious. The plant is so com- 
mon and so easily grown in any wet ditch that it may be well 
worth experimenting with it. 
H. N. RIDLEY. 
Erratum. 
Lanadron Estate, Muar, 
. 30th May , 1 <)Oj . 
Dear Sir, — In my article on the “ Preparation of Crude Rub- 
ber” in your last issue a printers error occurs which I shall he glad 
if you will correct, page 120 line j 1 should read “ which loses rg'}',, 
in washing instead of 5% as stated. 
Yours faithfully, 
F. PEARS 
The Editor , 
Agricultural Bulletin, Singapore. 
THE BELGIAN RUBBER EXPERT. 
His Impressions of Ceylon. 
M. Octave Collet, the Belgian rubber scientist and expert, who is 
on a visit to the Island, investigating our methods of planting. 
