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disease of lime trees in the West Indies caused by 
Rosellinia bunodes will be found in Malaya; this 
fungus has already been found killing young “kapur” 
stumps in this country. Pink disease has also been 
recorded on lime trees in Malaya. 
Specimens of diseased banana plants. Sea Island 
cotton, and castor oil plants, have been received for 
investigation. It may be expected that, if any of 
these crops are planted on a large scale in Malaya, 
serious plant diseases will appear. 
INSECT PESTS. 
In the process of clearing jungle 'and growing a 
particular crop to the exclusion of all other plants, 
the natural balance of vegetation is upset. Insects 
which feed on related plants, finding abundant food 
material, will naturally increase to great proportions. 
As the cultivation of one kind of plant proceeds, the 
insects which feed upon it may be expected to be- 
come more abundant, for they find a plentiful and 
easily accessible supply. 
Local insects are not always, however, entirely 
responsible for the damage done to crops. Insects 
which may be established pests in their own country, 
or which might gradually become such in other sur- 
roundings, are often imported into a new country. 
Such imported insects are frequently more injurious 
than the local ones, since the latter are generally kept 
in check by birds, other insects and diseases. Im- 
ported pests are rarely accompanied by their natural 
enemies, and hence increase to great numbers and 
do enormous damage before they are attacked by 
the natural enemies of similar native insects. 
$ 1 - 48 ’/ &°i 
