32 REPORT OF THE AGRICULITJRAL RESEARCH 



In general, the provincial work is preliminary and 



directed to ascertaining what are the pests of the province 



and how far they are destructive. Only in Madras is the 



work so far advanced that an accurate statement of the 



crop-pests can be prepared and a reasonable estimate 



formed of the possibilities of developing the work. In 



almost all provinces, progress has been made in coping 



with crop-pests as they occur in serious outbreaks, but in 



almost all the work requires systematising on a permanent 



basis that will conduce to steady progress and eventual 



thoroughness. Much advance cannot be achieved while the 



present staff in the provinces is limited to eleven assistants 



and the direction of the work is in the hands of various 



officers in the Provincial Departments who have other work 



to do and who do not want additional staff to look after. 



Correspondence. — As in previous years, there has been 

 a large volume of enquiries on all matters connected with 

 insects; the enquiries connected with insects attacking 

 crops have been mainly diverted to the Provincial Depart- 

 ments, but a large mass of miscellaneous enquiries has been 

 received and dealt with. A part of these are from official 

 sources, exclusive of the correspondence with Provincial 

 Agricultural Departments, but a large part also is from 

 the general public; they deal with garden and fruit pests, 

 household pests, insects in grain and timber, insects on 

 domestic animals, insecticides, spraying machines and the 

 identification of insects. The parcels of injurious insects 

 sent in numbered 117. A total of 1,255 enquiries came 

 from official and public sources and at least as many as^ain 

 from planters and others in close touch with the section 

 were answered demi-officially without record. The 

 enquiries with regard to si'k numbered over 1,000 and 

 there were many concerning bee-keeping and lac. So far 

 as possible, these are answered by reference to publications, 

 or bv the despatch of a leaflet or reprint but thev are of such 

 wide ransre that a very large number must be answered 

 fully and this occupies much time. I hold this work to be 

 of very direct value and I believe every ennuiry has been 

 fully and promptly met to the best of our ability. 



