JAMAICA. 



LIBRARY 



OF THE NEW YOPK: 



BOTAMCaI. 



DEPARTMENT OF AGIRICULTURE. <^^^^^^- 



Vol. IV. JUNE, 1906. Part 6. 



NOTE ON SILK WORMS FROM COLOMBIA. 



By M. GRABHAM, M.A., M.B. 



Notes on Attacits joruUa* : — 250 young larvae received from M. 

 Patin, (Belgian Consul to Colombia) in June 1900. Eggs brought 

 by him from Sta. Fe de Bogota, Colombia. He stated that their 

 natural food was a species of Hippomane, as this food plant was 

 not obtainable here, the sandbox {Hura crepitans) and Plum 

 (Spo)idias purpurea) were used at his suggestion. Branches of the 

 trees were isolated in bags of mosquito netting and the larvae 

 placed on the leaves. They grew well in their early stages, but 

 in the final moults most of them refused to eat and died. It was 

 thought that this might have been due to the lack of moisture, M. 

 Patin said that in the Andes about Sta. Fe the moisture was in- 

 tense. The leaves were frequently sprayed but this had no effect. 

 Some larvae were kept in an insectarium and fed on freshly 

 gathered leaves ; these fared no better. About ten spun very 

 indifferent cocoons and about six moths developed — all of very 

 feeble vitality. A few eggs laid by these moths did not hatch. 

 Specimens of the moths were placed in the Museum of the Institute 

 of Jamaica ; and some were sent to the U.S. National Museum at 

 Washington for identification. 



The common Wasp {Polista sp.) proved the most formidable 

 enemy, killing and devouring the caterpillars whenever they 

 approached too close to the netting. 



REPORT ON THE TANNING MATERIALS AND 

 MANUFACTURE OF LEATHER IN JAMAICA.! 



By M. NIERENSTEIN, Ph. D. 

 Plants. 

 The following plants yielding tanning materials are stated to 

 occur in the Island : Acacia Catechu, Bauhinia varicgata. I Caesalpinia 

 _Q coriaria (Divi Divi), Laguncularia racemosa (white mangrove). Of 



2 * The identification was made by Dr. Dyar of the U.S. National Museum. 



tQuarterly Joiii-nal. The Inftitute of Commercial Research in the Tropics, Liverpool 

 ' University. Vol. I, 2, April, 1906. 



?0 Jylcacm,5wma(notA.C'afec?iM) occurs in Jamaica: it closely resembles 4. Catechu,s,ni 

 . has similar properties. Bauhinia variegata is generally known as the " Butterfly Tree." 

 ;Z: Ei'-ifnr, Bidhtlii oj the I>(partinent of Agriculture, Jamaica 



