Report of the Entomologist. 249 



In the markets and shops much has been done, and in the case of 

 these places copies of the Proclamation before alluded to have been 

 printed in both the Greek and Chinese languages, and then dis- 

 tributed broadcast amongst growers and dealers )>elonging to these 

 nationalities. 



Fumigation. 



All trees and plants coming into the State have to be sent to 

 Burnley Gardens for fumigation, whilst some of the nurseries have a 

 fumigating plant of their own which is used for treating nursery 

 stock as required. The cyanide gas tent belonging to this branch is 

 being used as occasion oifers. 



Miscellaneous Insect and Bird Troubles. 



The cut worms have been much in evidence of late, as have also 

 the larvae of a moth fOncopteraJ , but by a timely application of 

 colonial gypsum in the proportion of from 1| cwt. to 2 cwt, per acre 

 we have managed to keep these pests fairly well in check. 



On grass lands, as paddocks, bowling greens, etc., the larvae of a 

 small brown beetle (Raplonychus) has been working great havoc, but the 

 sulphate of iron treatment bids fair to stamp out this particular trouble. 



The English starling promises to be one of the greatest enemies 

 of fruitgrowers, and a plebiscite of growers is now being taken 

 to decide whether the Agricultural Department is to be asked to take 

 steps to have the protection to these birds removed or in some way 

 modified, the damage at present done by these birds being most 

 serious. 



Examination of Imports and Exports of Fruit, 

 Plants and Grain. 



A glance at the figures submitted for the past year shows a satis- 

 factory increase in the fi*uit exports from this State. 



In the table devoted to imports it will be seen that a great pro- 

 portion is made up of bananas from Queensland, over three-quarters 

 of a million bunches having been received, and of these the Inspectors 

 have condemned 2,327 bunches, and over 1,000 loads of loose or 

 refuse bananas. These latter, after steaming, are supplied free of 

 charge to the cowkeepers who use them as a food for their cattle. 



It is most gratifying to note that neither of the much dreaded 

 fruitflies has as yet obtained a foothold in our State, although one has 

 shown itself in countries which are colder than our portion of Australia. 



The work of the office of which Inspector Turner is in temporary 

 charge is steadily increasing, with the growth of the export trade 

 and the additional work of examining all grain imports. The letters 

 and distribution of circulars amounted to 1,357, and the tables com- 

 piled by Inspector Turner, appearing under the heading of Statistics, 

 will speak for themselves. 



I have again to thank those who have contributed either to the 

 literature or to the economic collections of the branch, as also my 

 assistant and the Inspectors for help in field work and experiments. 



