235 



moisture. This precaution is one that does not involve addi- 

 toinal expense, at any rate in many cases ; in fact, the treat- 

 ment pays for itself, as the additional tillage is often pre- 

 cisely what the soil needs to make it more fertile. 



I have also observed that these worms find the odor of tar 

 to be objectionable and that tarring- the seed will, to a certain 

 extent, drive them away, more especially if there is something- 

 else in the soil upon which they can feed. I do not know 

 whether rubber seed will be injured by tarring, but would 

 suggest that it be tried. If, at the same time, some cheap seed 

 could be planted alongside, not tarred, the worms would prob- 

 ably attack the shoots of these seeds. Almost any cheap 

 seed that produces edible crops would answer the purpose; 

 for example, wheat. 



These worms sometimes cause serious trouble in green 

 houses, where the amount of soil being used is not great. 

 Under such circumstances it is possible to sterilize the soil 

 by using steam or hot water. 



If tobacco waste is boiled in water, two or three pounds of) 

 waste to the gallon of water, a liquor is produced which is 

 fatal to many small organisms, among them these worms. I 

 do not think that such a decoction would injure rubber seeds, 

 but I have never tried it and can only suggest that this may 

 be a suitable means of fighting the worms in the present case. 



It would be best to avoid stable manure where these worms 

 are abundant. It would be better to use artificial manure should 

 any manure be required. 



Of course the drainage should be attended to and good 

 drainage provided. In preparing buds for seedlings, some- 

 times earth is brought from some supposed fertile spot and 

 these worms may be introduced in this way. 



Lime water is said to be injurious to these worms, but I 

 have never tried it. 



Those who are engaged in introducing rubber into the<=:e 

 Islands, have at the present the opportunity which they will 

 never again have. Where the plants are being introduced to 

 new areas, it is possible, by taking certain precautions, precau- 

 tions that are not expensive, to prevent or at least delay the 

 introduction of the pests of the crop. If no precautions are 

 ta^ken, these pests are sure to make their appearance and to 

 attain at no distant date whatever virulence they may have in 

 their native country or they may even exceed that virulence. 

 Once they have obtained such a footing, the present oppor- 

 tunity will be gone. It seems to me that there is no money 

 that can be spent in connection with introducing a new crop 

 to these Islands that is so well spent as in taking great care 

 at the outset that no preventable diseases are introduced. 

 The money spent so as to accomplish this end will be returned 

 in the near future, perhaps a thousand fold. 



