218 
Perhaps this idea may be scouted as Utopian but there can be 
little doubt that the time will come when as strong regulations will 
be found essential and will b^as rigorously enforced as those relating 
to cattle or human disease, and h-k% importance to'* ‘ from the- 
planter to the shareholder and consumer tharisuc.i ^ ’' iouJ 
be mad§ and enforced. — E d. 
CORRESPONDENCE 
Tuba root for killing Termites. 
April 28th, IQIO. 
H. N. Ridley Esq., 
Dear Sir, 
I hope the few lines I am about to write you will not weary you 
nor be an old story. 
We have a small rubber plantation here —part of it is on an old 
Dyak clearing, and on this we were greatly troubled with white ants. 
Being so far from Singapore, and having very little money, we tried 
what we had at hand, and which would cost the least. I need not tell 
you how many things we tried, but we have finally cleaned our 
garden of white ants with tuba. We prepare it just like the Malays 
do when they prepare it for fishing— by beating the tuba and mixing it 
with water. Strong or weak it does not affect the trees or other 
vegetation. If the case is not bad, pour the water around the tree, 
if it is bad, take the earth away from the roots a little. I hope it will 
work for you as it has for us, and that you will try this, as it is little 
trouble and no expense. I suppose the jungle on the Malay 
Peninsula is full of tuba as it is here. If you want any further 
information, I will be glad to give it. I hope you will let me know 
what you think of this. 
Sincerely, 
J. M. Hoover. 
Tuba root has often been tried for termites before, with more or 
less success. It will certainly eject them temporarily but it is like 
other liquid insecticides too easily washed out by rain, when the pest 
may return. I have never seen tuba really wild except on a few 
limestone rocks.— Ed. 
Erratum. 
H. N. Ridley Esq., April 13th, 1910. 
Director of the Botanic Gardens, 
Singapore. 
Dear Sir, 
In the issue for March 1910 of the “ Agricultural Bulletin of the 
Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States,” page 108, a note 
