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among rubber tree® and even to clear land containing mature 
coconuts for the purpose of planting rubber. These conditions 
emphasized the importance of the coconut inspection work as the 
coconut refuse, if left lying about, would have provided an 
opportunity for a rapid increase in the number of the red beetles. 
This was avoided by regularly insisting on the destruction by 
burning or burial of the trees cut out. During 1915 a few serious 
local outbreaks of black beetles, particularly at Kuan tan and 
Seremban, called for special attention. No serious outbreaks were 
recorded in 1916. At the present time the Seremban trees have 
been free of beetles for over a year and have much improved in 
appearance. 
Pink disease — In contrast to the routine treatment of coconut 
beetles that of this disease had to be commenced at the very 
beginning. The disease was practically unknown to small owners 
throughout the country and was of comparatively recent occurrence ; 
moreover, it is not one which frequently results in the death of 
a tree : for these reasons its importance was not generally recognized 
by Asiatic owners, while at the same time the subordinate inspecting 
staff, of whom the majority had only ’worked on coconuts and the 
remainder were newly appointed, were not acquainted with its 
various manifestations. It was decided, therefore, to allow' a period 
of twelve months to elapse before taking legal action to insist on its 
control. During this period the subordinate staff were taught the 
symptoms and treatment, -small holdings were regularly visited and 
their owners were shown how to recognize the disease and what 
must be done to control it. 
The actual method of treatment recommended was to cut 
off the diseased branches well below the last signs of infection 
and to burn the diseased portions immediately. Smooth cut surfaces 
subsequently treated with tar were required. Owing to the cai*e 
necessary when treating* this disease with tar, as is done on the 
majority of estates, it was not considered a suitable method to 
recommend for use in the kampongs. 
At the beginning of 1915 it was thought that a sufficient period 
of education had elapsed, and the measures previously recommended 
for treatment of this disease w-ere subsequently insisted on by law. 
The routine inspection work once commenced w r as carried on steadily 
throughout 1915 and a large number of cases were taken in Court. 
Owners were, on the whole, however, very slow in recognizing that it 
was to their interest to carry out the instructions given and though 
a considerable number of fines were inflicted there did not appear to 
be much improvement in the way in which the work required was 
actually done. Throughout 1916 the regular treatment of this 
disease has been insisted upon, and, though an improvement is 
noticeable in certain districts the disease lias undoubtedly spread, 
and in other neighbourhoods there is practically no improvement In 
