s, I have great faith in the efficacy of the
"sand cure," and no nut picker should go aloft unprovided with a small
bamboo tube of dry, sifted sand, to protect the bases of recently
expanded leaves.

In Selangor cocoanut trees now come under the government inspection,
and planters and owners, under penalties, are compelled to destroy
these pests. Mr. L. C. Brown, of Kuala Lampur, in that State,
who writes intelligently on this subject, [8] lays great stress on
the value of clean cultivation in subduing beetles, and repeats a
cultural axiom that never grows old and that will, consequently,
bear reiteration here--that it is rarely anything but the neglected
plantation that suffers, and that the maintenance at all times of a
healthy, vigorous growth is in itself almost a guaranty of immunity
from attacks of these pernicious insects.

While we, unfortunately, know that this is not in all cases an assured
protection against diseases or insect enemies, it certainly minimizes
the danger and, in itself, is a justification of the high-pressure
cultural treatment advocated throughout the preceding pages.

RENOVATION OF OLD GROVES.

Material improvement of old plantations may sometimes be effected
and, unless the trees are known to be upward of fifty years old,
generally repays the labor. Marked increase in crop has followed a
heavy thinning out of trees upon the Government cocoanut farm at San
Ramon, Mindanao. The improvement that a freer circulation of air and
abundant sunlight have effected is very marked. Where it can be done,
plowing is also sometimes feasible and should be followed by immediate
crop improvement. The average native plow is not so well adapted for
working over an old or neglected grove as it is for original soil
preparation. It acts more as a subsoiler and will tear and lacerate
more roots than is desirable. A single carabao, or one-horse American
garden plow, is the better implement for this work. Extensive bat guano
deposits are found in Mindoro, Guimaras, and Luzon. Some of them show
richness in nitrogen and, when accessible at a moderate cost, would
be useful in the renovation of old groves, where the shade would be
adverse to the rearing of good crops of nitrogen gatherers.

CONCLUSION.

1. There are large areas throughout the littoral valleys of the
Archipelago, as yet unexploited, which, in the essentials of soil,
climate, irrigation facilities, and general environment are sui