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increased area under cultivation on a plantation 
scale, quite different conditions would prevail, the 
risk of both pests and diseases naturally becoming 
greater. 
Among insect pests, the coconut beetle ( Oryctes 
rhinoceros , Linn.) and the red-stripe weevil ( Ryhn - 
chophorus schach, Oliv.) have been found doing 
damage, the latter having been known to -kill palms 
by boring through the main stem. 
The only disease so far reported, which appears to 
be confined to young palms, is the “ crown disease.” 
This is a weakening of the leaf stalk of the young 
leaves, which become bent and fall over, giving the 
crown a twisted appearance. As a rule, after some 
time, new leaves are formed and the palm recovers 
its normal appearance. 
Other pests which may be mentioned are rats, pigs, 
and porcupines, which must be exterminated by the 
usual methods, such as poisoning, trapping or killing 
in some other way. 
Harvesting . — As previously stated, the palms come 
into bearing at about the 3rd. or 4th. year after 
planting, and the fruit ripens about 6 months af£er 
pollination. The crop is not evenly distributed over 
the different months of the year, the maximum crop 
being obtained in the dry season and the minimum 
in the wet season; the maximum production per 
month is about double the average monthly pro- 
duction. 
