462 SCIENCE PROGRESS. 



time attention was exclusively paid to these vegetable para- 

 sites. L.otions and sprays, destructive manures, digging 

 up and burning were the order of the day. It is now being 

 gradually recognised that success by these direct attacks is 

 beyond the powers of man. Induced methods, having in 

 view the strengthening of the cane's constitution, are in 

 vogue, on the principle of " less poison and more circum- 

 vention ". The adaptation of the different varieties of the 

 sugar-cane to soil and climate are more carefully weighed : 

 fresh varieties are introduced and attempts are being made 

 to obtain new and improved strains by means of vegetative 

 and sexual selection. 



2. The literature dealing with the direct remedies is 

 immense and it will serve no useful purpose to attempt to 

 summarise it, especially as many of the earlier suggestions 

 were made without a knowledge of the true cause of the 

 disease. 



In the days when plagues were attributed to the malign 

 influence of supernatural powers, the cure consisted in 

 religious assemblies and votive offerings. We thus find it 

 recorded by Oviedo and Herrera that the whole island of 

 Hispaniola was subject in the early days of cane cultivation 

 to the attacks of a species of ant, which in 1518 overran 

 the island, devouring all vegetation, causing famine to the 

 inhabitants, and nearly depopulating the island. " In order 

 to get rid of these scourges, great processions and vows 

 were made in honour of St. Saturnin ; the day of the saint 

 was celebrated with great solemnities, and the ants disap- 

 peared afterwards gi'aditallyy ^ 



The "sugar-ants," Formica omnivora, which appeared 

 in immense quantities in the cane-fields of Barbados and 

 other islands in i 760 were, on the contrary, attacked by the 

 planters with the greatest ferocity — the latter not appearing 

 to have any superstitions in the matter. Poison and fire were 

 freely employed. Corrosive sublimate was found to be 

 most effective, the ants becoming insane and pulling one 

 another to pieces. Burning charcoal was quickly extin- 

 guished by the immense numbers which threw themselves 



^ Schomburgk. 



