INSTITUTE, PUS A, FOR 1917-18 ♦ 3 



in the fact that the adoption of these methods if found 

 economical will tend to lengthen the working season for a 

 sugar factory in the North- West Frontier Province. 



In the Section of Botany the most important work is in 

 connection with wheat both as regards seed distribution 

 and wheat breeding. Another crop receiving attention is 

 Java indigo. Besides the selection work on this crop, its 

 root system and the effect thereon of any alteration in the 

 soil conditions and also of cutting back to varying degrees 

 are being investigated. The Howards are devoting much 

 attention to the improvement of fodder production and 

 fruit culture in Baluchistan as also the sun-drying of vege- 

 tables and the raising of the wheat crop on a minimum 

 amount of water. 



In the Mycological Section the " ufra " disease of rice 

 claimed a very large amount of Dr. Butler's attention. 

 Among other important diseases under study in this Sec- 

 tion are the black band disease of jute, black thread disease 

 of rubber, die-back of chillies and the tikka disease of 

 groundnuts. 



In the Section of Entomology the most important work 

 of the year was in connection with the pests of sugarcane. 

 The Entomological Department have been able to distin- 

 guish no less than 10 different forms which hitherto passed 

 under the name of Chilo simplex. The question of alter- 

 native wild food plants of these borers is being investigated. 

 Experiments to test the best methods of storing grain have 

 shown that grain and pulses remain perfectly safe and in 

 good condition when stored under a layer of sand. The 

 enquiry regarding the occurrence within the Indian Empire 

 of any insects which may be utilized as efficient checks on 

 the growth of Lanta?ia, a weed pest, is still in progress. 

 Life-histories of various insects were studied and useful 

 work in connection with bee, lac, and silkworms done during 

 the year. 



In the Section of Pathological Entomology some work 

 has been done on cheap repeilants to prevent Tabanidae 



