255 



the tree. At the same time the sulphate of potash will, of course, act 

 as a valuable fertilizer. 



Before passing en to the subject of natural remedies, it may be 

 observed that in FloriHa and California, and other countries where 

 Citrus fruits are grown, the groves are kept very clean, and in tho- 

 rough cultivation, smd and that such graves suffer comparatively little 

 from the borer and root-feeding class of insect pests And in those 

 countries it has been found that land that has undergone deep plough- 

 ing prior to the phmting of a grove, is especially exempt from these 

 pests. 



Natural Remedies. 



The Burrowing Wasp. 

 £lis atrata. 



The accompanying figure of a wasp will give some idea of a little 

 friend of the planter which has latelycome under the notice of the i de- 

 partment of Public Gardens as feeding on the larvae of the Orange Weevil. 

 Whether or not the Orange Weevil is directly injurious to Citrus 

 trees, it will be well to protect this wasp, which not only preys upon 

 larvEe or grubs of this beetle, but also keeps in check other beetle- 

 grub-* and grasshoppers which, were they to become too numerous, 

 might prove serious enemies to agriculture. 



This insect belongs to a group of solitary wasps, abundant in warm 

 climates, generally forming their nests by digging holes in the ground, 

 provisioning them with beetle-grubs, grasshoppers and other insects, 

 which form the food of the little wasp-grub as soon as it hatches. 



There are many kinds of solitary wasps in Jamaica, and some of 

 them are very brightly coloured. The species under review is 

 called here by the negroes " Grave Digger" from its habit of burrow- 

 ing in the ground. It is a large b ackinsecr, measuring about an inch 

 and a quarter in length, with two inches and a lalf expanse of wing. 

 The wings are of a bluish-black colour, iridescent with flashes of red 

 and violet towards the tip.s. 



This wasp is found commonly isi the West Indies, and may often be 

 seen crawling among the blossoms of trees and shrubs ; or, with a sub- 

 dued droning hum, flying slowly in a zig-zag manner hither and thither 



