300 
the earlier part of the year, which continued for a considerable 
time, and notwithstanding the strictest supervision it was quite 
impossible to cope with their raids altogether, or prevent a certain 
amount of harm being done to the trees from their attacks; 
however, the evil is now gradually disappearing, and the trees 
slowly recovering. This sudden and unusually large swarm of 
beetles, I am of opinion, was due to some extent to the wholesale 
destruction of so many trees at a time by the Europeans, as, 
under these circumstances,, even with the greatest precautions, it 
is almost impossible to prevent the beetles taking some advantage 
of the debris left lying about before the stems can be properly 
destroyed; and again it maybe partially accounted for by the 
many clearings of jungle and forest land in the vicinity, while 
there is always the difficulty of getting the natives to extricate 
the beetles from the trees that have been attacked. At Golden 
Hope Estate, Klang, an outbreak of “ nettle grub" caterpillars, a 
species of Thosea, occurred in March, and many of the coconut 
trees were attacked, and the leaves became quite defoliated from 
their feeding on them. The insects disappeared suddenly in 
about three months’ time, apd, except that the trees were thrown 
back for a time, the harm done otherwise did not seem to seriously 
affect them. 
Kuala Langat. — The plantations in this district are making 
good progress. Both on Jugra and Klanang Estates the trees 
are, for their age, giving excellent returns; on Mr. Munro’s estate 
the trees are coming on very well. Mg Munro is using the Indian 
plough for getting rid of the lalang, and has done capital work 
with it. This method he linds very much cheaper than coolie 
labour, and the results have proved equally satisfactory for its 
eradihcation, while there is no doubt turning over the soil proves 
most beneficial to the progress of the trees. The beetle pest gives 
little trouble in this district. Around Jugra itself the trees have 
been slightly attacked by them, but this is now entirely 
suppressed. 
Kuala Selangor and Bernam. — I am able to report some 
improvement in these districts since the appointment of a Sub- 
Inspector. Many of the coconut plantations that were so much 
neglected by the natives are now being cleaned up regularly, and 
maintained in a satisfactory condition. The beetle pest — so 
prevalent before in some mukims in Kuala Selangor — is now 
t educed, but very strict supervision is still required to keep them 
away from their old haunts. The trees in the Bernam district 
are, I am pleased to say, very free of the beetles. 
Selangor Oil Mills. — About 16,000 pikuls of copra passed 
through their factory. About half of the copra was made on the 
premises, and the other half purchased from the surrounding 
districts mostly from Jeram and Permatang. 
