Report of the Entomologist. 855 



purposes of caprification, but owing to some unfortunate blunder on 

 tlie part of some one in America the parcel was detained, and when 

 the insects reached me they were quite dead and decomposed. Mr. 

 Roeding has kindly promised to send a further supply, so we may 

 hope for a more successful venture. 



The root-borer experiments have proved that trapping in itself is 

 insufficient to stamp out this pest, and although a reward has been 

 offered for the best means of exterminating the insects, no real 

 practical solution of the trouble has as yet been brought under notice. 

 The root-borer is one of our very w^orst pests, as for years the growers 

 were unaware of the cause of the trouble, and when this was found 

 out, in most cases, the badly affected trees were either dead or dying, 

 the grubs in the roots being most difficult to treat successfully. This 

 matter is receiving our best attention. 



The grasshopper-fungus tests have been followed up, and my 

 suggestion as to making a small charge for the material has made a 

 large difference in the number of tubes applied for, the number of 

 tubes sent out during the present year being 842, and the amount 

 received for same £36 6s. So far the letters received as to the value 

 of this important discovery continue to be most satisfactory. The 

 tubes on the present occasion have all been prepared at the chemical 

 laboratory over which Dr. Howell presides. 



Experiments on the San Jose Scale with lime, sulphur and salt, 

 are still being carried out. A new material placed on the market in 

 the shape of "red oil" gives promise of excellent results. 



The peach aphides, both kinds, have not been so bad as in former 

 years, the constant treatment having had a very marked effect, the 

 peach crop of last season having been an exceptionally heavy one. 



I regret to say that the onion land in many parts of the rich 

 Drysdale district has still resisted our efforts to free same from the 

 eel-worm, although the experiments carried out demonstrated that 

 the wire-worm and other pests ot a caterpillar nature could be 

 destroyed by means of gypsum, sulphate of iron and other materials. 

 The experiments will be continued, and we trust with some success, 

 as these valuable lands must be treated until rid of these pests. 



Further experiments for the eradication of the St. John's Wort 

 have been made, and now that a sum of money has been granted for 

 the purpose, we hope to be able to state what we have found to be 

 the cheapest and most effectual methods of treatment. It is satis- 

 factory to know that this plant can be permanently destroyed by 

 means of certain chemicals, and the pviblication of a pamphlet, with 

 coloured plates and methods of treatment, has been authorized and is 

 now in course of publication, this for broadcast circulation amongst 

 country municipalities, farmers, graziers. State schools, etc. Dried 

 specimens of the ])lant have been sent to most of the municipalities 

 throughout the State. 



Lectures upon various subjects have been delivered by the field 

 members of the staff (inspectors under the Vegetation Diseases Act) 



