THE W.Vri'LE PLANTATION 51 



Size of the Blocks. 



This ranges anywiiere from ten to five hundred acres, 

 two hundred acres would probably represent the average 

 «ize. This large extent of the blocks is also detrimental, 

 for the reason that the larger the block the smaller the 

 percentage of the number of trees exposed to the light on 

 the edges, the insects on these being more heavily para- 

 sitised. Secondly the smaller blocks are more easily 

 inspected for diseased or dying trees and these, together 

 with brushwood, resulting from eventual thinning out, 

 can be easily removed to the outside and burned. Third- 

 ly, the larger the block, the longer it takes to harvest and 

 thus the longer the burning has to be postponed, which 

 is undesirable, as shown. 



Summing up, we find that from the view of the 

 economic entomologist the present methods of wattle 

 growing leave very much to be desired, in fact, the 

 danger, nay the certainty of insect infestation is being 

 entirely lost sight of, even in the most up to date 

 methods. The one and only reference I have seen to the 

 danger from insects is by the same grower in the article 

 cited at the beginning of this paper, where he recom- 

 mends scattering the several seeds in the hole so that 

 insects coming along to eat it might leave some, so that 

 at least one plant would come up in the place provided. 

 Otherwise the insect-side of the wattle plantation is en- 

 tirely ignored. What would one think of a commercial 

 fruit grower of the present day who would lay out a 

 new orchard and grow the trees without making provi- 

 sions to facilitate the control of the insects which he 

 knows are certain to come along, and who would simply 

 be hoping and expecting that natural enemies would 

 effectively control the pests? This is exactly the con- 

 dition which we find in regard to the wattles today. 

 The present day wattle plantation is, entomologically 



