66 REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



cotton crop, but it is observable that late-ripening varieties 

 were attacked most severely, local cotton (Gossypium neglec- 

 tum), which ripens and is picked before the middle of 

 October, practically escaping attack. Living specimens of 

 Rhogas were supplied from Pusa and set free in the cotton- 

 fields of the Agricultural Station at Tarnab, but it is doubt- 

 ful whether they have established themselves. A Jassid 

 bug, attacking grape-vines in the vineyards situated in the 

 lower parts of the Peshawar Valley, has also been under 

 investigation. 



In Bihar the entomological work has always been done 

 in close touch with Pusa and this has been the result of 

 policy rather than of the contiguity of the two localities. 

 An account of the more important pests was prepared some 

 three years ago and was issued at the close of the year under 

 review as a Crop-pest Handbook. The most important 

 work undertaken has been the control of A grotis ypsilon on 

 the Mokameh Tal and the storage of potatoes. At Mokameh 

 a regular campaign was undertaken and during the season 

 39.000 caterpillars were picked and destroyed on the high 

 lands, whilst 34 traps destroyed 893,320 moths of which 

 about 41 per cent, were females. On account of abnormal 

 flood conditions and other factors, the attack was unusually 

 serious, some 5,000 bighas of rabi pulse crops being des- 

 troyed. A similar campaign was undertaken against the 

 same insect for the first time at Colgong and Ghogha, where 

 21 traps destroyed 43,874 moths whilst 337,600 caterpillars 

 were handpicked from the high lands which were first 

 attacked; the attack, which normally extends over an area 

 of 8.000 bighas, was reduced to a nominal damage over about 

 20 bighas as a result of the above-mentioned efforts. The 

 storage of seed potatoes has of late years presented great 

 difficulties in Bihar, as in other provinces, as a result of the 

 introduction into India of the Potato Moth (Phthorimcea 

 operculella). Storage under dry sand has proved fairly 

 effective in the districts South of the Ganges and Govern- 

 ment godowns were started at Bihar, Bhagalpur, Colgong 

 and Sabour in order to demonstrate the practicability and 



