181 



Speyer (E. R.). Shot-hole Borer of Tea. Extract from the Report 

 of the Entomologist for the Quarter ending July-September 1918. 



- TrojJ. Agricullurist, Peradeniya, li, uo. 6, December 1918, p. 373. 



Experiments on the manufacture of a suitable substance for painting 

 on tea-bushes immediately after pruning showed that a 30 per cent, 

 solution of Indian fish-oil resin soap used as a, wash, and a 2 per cent, 

 solution used as a spray, were not sufficiently successful in their effect 

 on the borer [Xyleborus fornicatus] to warrant the extensive use of 

 the mixture. Further, 30 per cent., 20 per cent., 10 per cent., 5 per 

 cent, and 1 per cent, solutions tested as insecticides on insects extracted 

 from the galleries showed that the stronger solutions were no more 

 effective than the weaker. Finally it was found that the soap was so 

 caustic that its application by hand was impossible, and all the fish- 

 oil in the mixture was saponified, thus rendering it useless, A strong 

 solution of the soap used as a paint was speedily washed from the 

 bushes by the heavy rains. 



Fish-oil resin emulsion proved very effective on a small scale, a 

 strength of about 1 in 3 of water giving the best results. Dorana oil, 

 obtained locally, makes a complete emulsion in 5 parts of water and 

 resin is easily dissolved in it. Its effect as an insecticide is extremely 

 powerful, but it is doubtful if enough of this oil could be obtained to 

 make its use practicable. 



The burial of the infested wood of prunings is finally condemned, 

 beetles having emerged when buried at a depth of 9 inches during 

 the south-west monsoon, even after heavy rains. It is essential, 

 however, to bury the leaves and small twigs and to return the ash 

 from the burnt wood to the soil. 



Freeman (W. G.). Administration Report of the Acting Director of 

 Agriculture for the Year 1917. — Dept. Agric. Trinidad & Tobago, 

 P&rt-of-Spain, 1918, 56 pp. [Received i5th February 1919.] 



Sugar-cane during 1916-1917 suffered Uttle from attacks of the 

 frogho^ipeT^T otnaspis saccJiarina. but later in the year there was a 

 decided recurrence of the pest, and it is expected that the 1918 crop 

 will be reduced in consequence. The search for a non-indigenous 

 parasite of the pest is being continued. Some varieties of cane are 

 undoubtedly more susceptible than others, and it is thought that some 

 cormection may be found between susceptibility to attacks of 

 T. saccharina and root disease. Some trouble from thrips was 

 experienced by cacao-growers. BrassoUs sophorae (coconut butterfly) 

 caused considerable damage and was proclaimed a pest under the 

 Plant Protection Ordinance. Cosmopolites sordidus (black banana 

 weevil) was found to be attacking bananas in March and untilNovember 

 the practice of searching for and digging out grubs and beetles from 

 the stools was continued. This was expensive and not very satis- 

 factory, and in December, on the recommendation of the entomologist, 

 traps consisting of sliced banana bulbs were placed on the ground 

 between the rows and gave good results. Sliced stems appeared 

 equally successful. Each morning the beetles were collected from 

 the traps, 644 being taken during December, 511 in January, 270 in 

 February and 341 in March, from an area of about ^ of an acre. Mole- 

 crickets were kept in check in a vegetable garden by the use of a 



