97 
AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN 
OF THE 
STRAITS 
AND 
FEDERATED MALAY STATES. 
No. 3.] MARCH, 1909. [Von VIII. 
TERMES GrESTROI. 
In the whole of the past history of tropical agricul- 
ture in tea, coffee, cocoa, cinchona and spices; there have 
been four causes for disappointment and an awakening from 
the golden dreams with which various enterprises were 
originally commenced; i.e. 
1. Substitutes. 
2. Synthetic production at a low cost. 
3. Over-production. 
4. Pests and Blights. 
The first three are beyond the control of the individ- 
ual and if any reliance is to he placed on expert opinion 
the rubber planter in the East has nothing to fear from 
them in his comparatively new venture, but the fourth, 
i.e., Pests and Blights, come well within his scope and 
it is his duty to leave nothing to chance and do every- 
thing within his power to assure the success of the enter- 
prize. 
So far we have one blight and one pest which may 
be considered as serious, i.e., Forties semitostus and Termes 
Gestroi. 
Forties semitostus is a blight which if taken in hand 
at once and treated according to the advice of the Govern- 
ment mycologist Mr. W. J. Gallagher, will I am sure be 
easily overcome as we have successfully dealt with the 
same class of blight in tea, coffee, etc. by drainage and 
application of lime. 
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