Mr. Ratiram. 
Mr. H. L. Dutt. 
Mr. Ramakrishna 
Ayyar. 
Mr. Robertson- 
Brown. 
Mr. Fletcher. 
Mr. Ghosh. 
Mr. M. M. Lal. 
144 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECOND ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 
from the treated plots was 40 per cent. in excess of that produced from 
the untreated plots. 
In the Central Provinces at Sindéwahi and Tharsa Farms another 
experiment was tried to check the borers. Different plots of cane were 
planted on the 15th of each month from October to February. It 
was noted that those plots sown in October, November and December 
were not attacked so badly as the plots sown in January and February. 
This experiment was done because the borers hibernate during the cold 
weather. 
It is probable, as shown by Mr. Taylor’s experiments at Sabour,. 
that an alteration in the time of planting would lead to bad results in 
other ways. ' 
In Madras the attack of borers in cane is occasionally serious. 
Thick cane is grown at Peshawar and there is considerable trouble 
from borers. The collection of eggs on young shoots is_ practised and 
it is fairly effective, as is seen on comparison of results from untreated 
and treated plots. The egg-masses of the borers can be seen easily by 
little boys who soon become adept at this work. 
Cane planted in Shaftal (clover) suffers less from borer than cane 
planted in fallow land. This has been the experience of the cultivators. 
in the North-West Frontier Province, and I can also confirm this. 
The next borers are the two species of Scirpophaga, of which S.. 
monostigma does not seem to be common and is hardly a pest, but S. 
xanthogastrella (auriflua) is common in most parts of the Plains of India 
and is a decided pest of cane. Both species are described and figured 
in * South Indian Insects” [pp. 425-426, figs. 302, 303] and we have a 
coloured plate of zanthogastrella in preparation. Control includes collec- 
tion of egg-masses, which are fairly obvious on the leaves, and prompt 
cutting out of ‘‘ dead-hearts,” as in the case of the other borers. In the 
Central Provinces, where Scirpophaga has done considerable damage at 
Sindewahi, the early planting of setts, as described just now by 
Mr. Ratiram, has also proved advantageous. 
At Pusa Scirpophaga is found in large numbers at the top of grown- 
up cane in winter, producing a bunchy effect. But it does more damage 
to young shoots, being the first borer to affect them after hibernation. 
The egg-masses are easily visible and collected from the leaves. I 
care is taken to destroy the tops with “‘ dead-hearts ” at the harvesting- 
time, the damage to young shoots is greatly diminished. 
In the Punjab Scirpophaga is found late in the season in the cane 
crop. 
