Vot. XVIIl. No, 445. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



155 



namely cotton (Gossypium spp.), silk-cotton {Eriodendron 

 anfractuosum), 'John Bull' or 'mahoe' {Thefpesia popidnea), 

 wild ochro (Malachra capifafa), all occurred in these 

 places. In July 1918, when the question of starting a 

 campaign against the 'mahoe cochon' tree was raised, the 

 writer reported as under : — 



'With regard to the 'mcuutain Joho Bull', or 'mahoe 

 cochon,' I am doubtful whether it would be wise to attempt 

 to eradicate it in the position it occupies at the northern end 

 of the island. 1 hardly think that many insects escape the un- 

 natural conditions of the wet forest there. Many may be 

 attracted thereto in the dry season, but few, I believe ever 

 return'. 



However, the luntter was not lost sight of, and an 

 eflfort was recently made lo obtain additional information in 

 regard to the tree, and the c ttcn stainer with which it 

 was associated ; and for this purpose two officers of the 

 Agricultural Departmeit, namely, Mr, L. Brown, Cotton 

 Inspector, and Mr. F. Simmons, foreman of the Experiment 

 Station, were instructed to make certain investigations in 

 the district. Tliey left Kingstown on April 28, and returned 

 on May 2. 



' I he fo'lowing is an extract from the report they sub- 

 mitted on their visit ; — 



' The ' mahoe cochon" {Sterculia caribaea) trees"abound 

 in the mountains about Sandy Bay and Owia. They never 

 seem to grow at an altitude of less than 1.000 

 feet. At this time (end of April) ilie pods or 

 carpids are opening and allowing the seeds to fall to the 

 ground. The trees are not heavy bearers, but owing 

 to their occurrence in large numbers, enough seed is pro- 

 duced to provide food for the numerous cotton stainers which 

 leave the cotton fields in areas further south when the cotton 

 stalks are destroyed. Cotton stainers were seen about the 

 buildings and roads at Owia estate during the month of 

 April; they were evidently on their journey from the cotton 

 fields to the "mahoe cochon" trees. No cotton was grown at 

 Owia. At the time of our visit the fruiting was not com- 

 pleted, but it was estimated, however, that within a fort- 

 night all the s^eds would have fallen to the ground. The 

 unopened carpids on the trees had no stainers on them. On 

 the ground there were considerable numbers of the pest in 

 different stages if development, feeding on the seeds. We 

 were informed that by the end of August no stainers could 

 be seen under the trees, and that it was commonly 

 noticed by the people of the district that the torrential 

 rains which commence to fall in May, and continue through 

 June, July, and August, account for the death of the insects. 

 Rains had fallen just prior to our visit, however, and we 

 found a fair number of insects dead on the ground beneath 

 the trees. Some of these were partially, ard others 

 completely, covered with a distinct buff-coloured fungus. 

 Specimens were collected. If this fungus kills the stainers, 

 it can be reckoned as a second factor accounting for the 

 disappearance of the pest, and it might be e.'cpected to 

 operate to full advantage under the humid coniitions that 

 are known to exist for long periods of the year, and to be 

 easily spread owing to the gregarious habit of the insect. 

 We were told by our guide that a mountain dove fed on 

 the stainers, but further proof of this would be necessary. 

 The well known parasitic mite whs found under the wings of 

 Some of the stainers, but appeared of little account 



' Some Sea Island cotton was grown last season at 

 Sandy Bay adjoining Owia, and the growers told us that 



cotton .stainers appeared in their cultivations in December, 

 when the bolls were opening. The length of time from the 

 disappearance of the insect from the "mahoe cochon" trees is 

 too long to lead us to infer that the stainers came direct from 

 these trees. If they had been present they would hava 

 been seen when the cotton bolls started to open early in 

 October. No one, however, could inform us with any degree 

 of certainty of the direction whence the insects came. 

 After the cotton stalks were destroyed at the end of March, the 

 people stated that the pest left for the mountains. 



'To sum up, it appears to us at the present time that the 

 "mahoe" cochon trees, instead of being a menace as a food- 

 plant of the cotton stainer, act as a trap for it.' 



The above brief account is an important contribution to 

 the local knowledge of the cotton stainer, and it is in accord- 

 ance with previous observations made by the writer. The find- 

 ing of a parasite which proves to be an entomogenous fungus 

 Sporo/richiu/i globidifenim, known in the United States as 

 the chinch bug fungus, and locally as the thrips fungus, 

 because it was first discovered in the colony attacking the 

 latter insect, is of special interest; and it maybe expected 

 that as the season advances it will cause a heavy mortality 

 among the cotton stainers in the district. 



The fact that after the commencement of heavy rains 

 each year the rivers in the district are seen to carry down 

 with them large numbers of dead cotton stainers, is an 

 indication that the mortality among them is verj' high. 



Furtlier observations will be made during the wet 

 season, and the owner of Owia estate has promised t'l 

 plant an acre of Sea Islaad cotton there about the first 

 week in Tuly, in order to ascertain whether any stainers 

 survive; a'^d, if so, to afford information regarding them. 



It is known that the adult cotton stainer can exist with- 

 out breeding for several weeks after all the cotton stalks are 

 destroyed eich seasou, and, in the absence of its regular food- 

 plants, chiefly by sipyini; the nectar of various flowers. If, 

 therefore, it is found desirable to encouraj;e the insect to 

 migrate to certain place-i where conditions are unfavourable 

 to i:, and where the chances of its survival are re'oote, then a 

 new phase in control methods is opened up. The position 

 of the 'mahoe cochon' trees of the northern mountains of 

 St. Vincent appears to off r particularly suitable facilities for 

 testing the point. It is considered from the evidence already 

 obtained that the destruction of the trees should not be 

 undertaken until it is definitely proved that they enable 

 the cotton stainer to tide over the critical period April- 

 July in each year. 



In Bulletin No. 1 of tho Station Agrouomique de 

 la Guadeloupe, recently published, Mr. J. vSydiiey 

 Dash, the Director of the Station, gives some advice to 

 cane growers in that island. Among the points noticed 

 is cattle raising. With regard to this we translate the 

 following remarks on ticks: 'The ([uestion of ticks is a 

 very important one in Guadeloupe, but it would not be 

 difficult to overcome tlit^m, if modern means of treat- 

 ment were employed, viz. dips and spraying. The 

 practice of scraping, together with the employmeut of 

 antiseptics for the skin, although beneficial for a time 

 is one of little benelit in the case of the gold tick or 

 Senegal tick, which when it is pulled off leaves its 

 proboscis in the skin, and produces a very painful sore' 



