72 SCIENTIFIC REPORTS OF THE AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 



M. N. De, Sericultural Assistant, toured in Madras and 

 Bombay from 23rd December to 9th January. The Field- 

 men were sent on tour as occasion required throughout the 

 year, chiefly in connection with outbreaks of pests. 



III. Training. 



Two students were under training in Entomology at the 

 commencement of the year under review. Of these, Sardar 

 Harchand Singh, deputed by Patiala State, completed the 

 full course, and Deoki Nandan, a private student, discon- 

 tinued the course from December, 1916, on appointment to 

 the Agricultural Department. A short course of practical 

 training in collecting, rearing and control of insects was 

 also given to Safdar, a Fieldman, sent by the North- West 

 Frontier Province. 



IV. Insect Pests. 



Numerous observations on Insect Pests have been made 

 during the year but these cannot be given in detail here 

 without unduly swelling this Report. Particular attention 

 has been paid to the pests of sugarcane and of stored grain 

 and the more important observations are noted below : — 



1. Cotton. The experiments, referred to in last year's 

 Report, were continued and tabulation of results has been 

 taken in hand. Breeding of parasites of cotton bollworm 

 (Earias spp.) was continued and living parasites were des- 

 patched to the Punjab in July and August, 1916. Speci- 

 mens of these parasites were sent to Mr. Brues, who informs 

 us that they belong to the genus Microbracon, and not 

 Rhogas as previously supposed. 



2. Rice. The life-history of Nephotettia; ~bipunctatv$ 

 was worked out. A Tubificid worm was sent in from 

 Hmawbi, Burma, as damaging rice, but does not seem to 

 be of regular occurrence as a pest. 



3. Sugarcane. Considerable attention has been paid 

 during the year to the important subject of borers. 

 Hitherto several different species of borers, all superficially 

 very much alike, have been mixed together under the name 



