348 



on the living- tissues of ])lants of economic importance. When, 

 however, they do occur as pests the injury to plants is usually 

 the result of the feedinii of the grubs on the fine roots after the 

 manner of the related insects of the Melolonthid group, of which 

 the brown hardback {P/iyfahis simfhi) and the May beetles 

 {Lachnostcrna patciis in St. Vincent and L. patruclis in St. Kitts) 

 are examples. In the case of the sugar-cane beetle (Ligynis rui^^i- 

 ceps) of the United States, however, the injury is reported to be 

 due to the adults tunnelling into the base of the stem. The injury 

 to canes in St. Croix by Sfratcgiis f if anus is different from l)oth 

 these. The habits of this insect are stated by Dr. Smith to be as 

 follows; "It occurs very abundantly, much to our disadvantage. 

 It (the larva) eats the roots of canes, sweet potatoes and other 

 plants and burrows into the bases of the cane shoots, eating its 

 way upward, and turning the cane into a liollow tube. The insect 

 is saprophytic as well as parasitic. I have found it living in de- 

 caying megass heaps. \t present (September 18) the grubs do 

 not seem to be so abundant as they were, probably because many 

 have turned to beetles, which are now busy laying eggs." 



There would seem to be no doubt that Strafe viis fitaniis is capa- 

 ble of becoming a very serious pest, and it is obvious that every 

 effort should be made to prevent the introduction of this insect 

 into any colony where it does not at ])resent exist. — The .li^^rieitl- 

 fural Nezvs. 



ROBUSTA COFFEE. 



Testimony seems to be abundant that Caf'tea Robusfa is a money 

 producer that should receive a larger attention in Mindanao. It 

 is a rapid, thrifty grower, an early producer, doing best under 

 rich, alhivial. well-drained soils, thrives from sea-level up to 30(X) 

 feet altitude and does best with shade when }oung. Planted at 

 corners of 12- foot squares with an additional ]ilant in the centre, 

 the yields, in the second year from planting, are 1.^0 i)ounds of 

 coffee per acre, and increasing annually to 2100 to 2400 pounds 

 per acre at six years. 



The tree is much freer from diseases and pests than (ither vari- 

 eties of coffee, tlic fruit shells easily and is Ixirne in tliick bunches 

 giving facility in gathering. Xo expensive machinerv is re(|uired 

 in the treatment f)f th® berry. The (|uality is that of medium 

 Arabian and sells at about 10% below good Java; but the ease of 

 ])roduction more than offsets the difference in market value. 



C'affea Robusta should make a good inU'rcro]) with cocoanuts 

 and rubljer. It should be planted not nearer than seven feet from 

 rubber aiifl a greater distance froiu cocoanuts. 



When planted with rubber the latter would shade the coffee out 

 in about .^ years but in the meantime the coffee pays a good divi- 

 dend while the rubber is maturing. With cocoanuts jilanted .SO 

 by 30 feet the intercrop coffee sliould contimic yielding much 



