Notes. 709 



Tobacco-leaf Slug. 



Mr. C P. van der Merwe, Eutomologist, ])uiban, reports 

 that the tobacco-leaf .slug has put in an appearance in the tobacco 

 seed-beds in the Piet Retief District. At the beginning of October 

 eggs and larvae, in all stages up to apparently full grown, were 

 jiresent, and, according to rei)orts from some farmiers, were already 

 very destructive. The insect appears to be showing up earlier this 

 year than last, possibly because a greater number of adults have 

 hil)eriiaied. The later generation may also be expected to be more 

 numerous and serious loss to tobacco growers will ensue unless steps 

 ai'e taken to control tlie pest by spraying with arsenate of lead. 



Importation of Cotton Seed. 



Cotton growers and others concerned are reminded that the intro- 

 duction of any cotton seed whatever into the Union is illegal unless 

 the Department of Agriculture has issued a permit for it. A permit 

 is only given in the case of cotton seed intended for sowing, and then 

 only at the discretion of the Department, which considers exery appli- 

 cation on its individual merits. The precaution is taken because of 

 the very grave danger of most devastating pest insects getting into 

 the country through the medium of seed. The notorious Mexican boll 

 weevil J an introduced insect causing appalling losses in the United 

 States of America, the cotton phytoptid mite, one that has destroyed 

 whole crops in some of the West India Islands, and the even more 

 feared pink boll-worm, the pest that reduced Egyptian cotton produc- 

 tion by half a few years ago, all spread from country to country with 

 seed. The widespread establishment of any one of these pests in 

 South Africa would paralyse and perhaps entirely stop our cultivation 

 of cotton. Every one concerned is urged to assist in making known 

 the dangers of introducing seed and the necessity of obtaining a 

 permit before cotton seed is shipped to this country. There is always 

 a risk that in ignorance of the law seed may be brought in a 

 passenger's luggage and so escape detection by customs examiners. 

 There is also the risk of seed coming in by post through not being 

 declared. Moreover, the boll weevil and the pink boll-worm moth 

 may escape from infested seed brought to a port, although the con- 

 signee may not be allowed to take delivery of the seed. Therefore 

 it is important that no cotton seed should arrive except special lots 

 for which permits have been arranged. A person responsible for 

 introducing cotton seed in the absence of a permit is liable to a 

 heavy fine. 



An illustration of the risk of pink boll-worm coming with seed 

 recently occurred in connection with a parcel of Egyptian seed 

 obtained from the British Cotton Growing Association. The seed 

 was in the possession of a passenger who landed at Durban en route 

 for the district of Lourenco Marques, where he intended to sow it. 

 A customs ofHcer detained the parcel, and it was ultimately sent 

 unopened to the Entomologist of the Department of Agriculture at 

 Lourenco Marques for inspection and fumigatioii. The inspection 

 disclosed living pink boll-worm larvae. The presence of many dead 

 larvae suggested that the seed had previously been treated for the 

 destruction of the pest, but evidently not with proper thoroughness. 



The same pest was found in a small parcel of Egyptian seed sent 

 to this Department by our own Trade Commissioner in London, 



