50 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



more important have been the cotton boll-worm, the potato 

 moth, two cockchafer beetles, the mango leaf hopper, the 

 mohwa beetle, the singhara beetle, the bristle beetle, the 

 surface grass-hoppers, the big cricket, the rice and cane 

 hispas, the sweet potato weevil, the til hawk moth, the 

 Behar hairy caterpillar, the tur pod bug, the cane leaf 

 hopper, the armyworm of rice, the rice stem-borer, the 

 melon weevil, the rice and cane mealy bugs, the rice leaf 

 hopper and the pests of castor, rice and indigo. The in- 

 fluence of climatic changes upon insect life and the problem 

 of utilizing beneficial insects, have also been investigated. 

 The search for an insecticide less poisonous than arsenic 

 was continued and brought to a conclusion, the field trials 

 showing that the new insecticide is extremely effective. 

 An enquiry into the best method of checking thrips on tea 

 in Darjeeling was taken up by arrangement with the 

 Scientific Officer of the Indian Tea Association and spray- 

 ing trials made; the method tried was found satisfactory 

 and is in use at present. In connection with potato moth, 

 the trial of methods of seed potato storage was made, and 

 this work is being carried on in collaboration with the 

 Central Provinces Agricultural Department. Trials are 

 being made in the Central Provinces and also m Bengal. 

 The relation of the wheat weevil to the percentage humidity 

 of wheat is being investigated in collaboration with the 

 Imperial Agricultural Chemist, for the Department of 

 Commerce and Industry. Cantharides or blister beetles 

 are a pest in India, and an endeavour is being made to 

 ascertain if they are of commercial value, so that those who 

 suffer from them, mav derive profit from collecting them. 

 The enquiry into the food of birds was continued by Mr. 

 Mason, as also investigation of methods of fumigating 

 plants, grain, etc. The question of taking steps to check 

 the promiscuous introduction of noxious insects from other 

 countries, was under consideration, and recommendations 

 were made for dealing with plant imports. Mr. Mason 

 visited the centres at which the army stores are baled and 

 stored to investigate the occurrence in clothing, etc., of the 



