235 



The infested larvae of C. asparagi develop normally until they are 

 ready to pupate in the ground, the parasite pupating in the nymphal 

 chamber prepared by the beetle in the earth near asparagus roots. 

 During the winter the parasite may be transported in this stage 

 from one district to another. This Chalcid is a very important enemy 

 of C. asparagi, and everywhere that it has been observed it has exerted 

 a marked degree of control on this asparagus pest. 



PiCTET (A.). Les Migrations de Pieris hrassicae en Suisse, en 1917. — 



Verh. Schw. Naturf. Ges., Aarau, Year 1917, no. 2, 1918, pp. 277- 

 278. 



There were four occasions during 1917 when the butterflies of 

 P. bhissicae occurred in large numbers. Their first appearance was 

 during the first fortnight in July, and these were local individuals, 

 the caterpillars derived from which were full-grown in the first half 

 of August and completely ruined the cabbage crop. The second and 

 third outbreaks were due to two tremendous swarms that crossed 

 the whole of Switzerland from North to South, the first from 19th- 

 22nd July and the second from 27th-29th of the same month. 

 Probably owing to the fact that the caterpillars of the first outbreak 

 had practically destroyed the cabbage crops, these swarms passed 

 straight on over the Jura mountains and the Alps to the south, and 

 the eggs deposited by them on their passage over Switzerland were only 

 about 10 per cent, of those laid by the first and last swarms. Thi 

 latter was composed of local individuals that were descendants of the 

 first outbreak. The caterpillars derived from these appeared in 

 immense numbers on what remained of the cabbages towards the 

 end of August. The scarcity of Braconid parasites of the genus 

 Micrngaster in 1916 explains in part the tremendous number of 

 P. brassicae in 1917. 



Lefroy (H. M.) & Ansorgk (E. C). Report on an Inquiry into the 

 Silk Industry In India. Vol. i. The Silk Industry. Vol. ii. Present 

 Condition of the Silk Trade of India. Vol. iii, Appendices to Vol. i. 



— Calvulta, 1917, pp. 1-211, 1-115 & 1-227. PubUshed 27th 

 March 1919. 



In consequence of the steady decline of the silk industry for a 

 number of years, the Government of India proposed an enquiry into 

 the question, and this was begun on 1st December 1915, The results 

 are contained in these comprehensive reports. The diminution in 

 silk production, which is most marked in Bengal, was found to be 

 due to the increased production of silk in Japan, to diseases among 

 the silkworms, of which the most serious are pebrine (Nosema apicis), 

 flacherie, grasserie, muscardine {Botrytis bassiana), the presence of 

 a parasite, the increased value of other crops and the inferiority of 

 the Bengal variety of silkworm. With a better race (which is now 

 available) and with the existing resources in nurseries, the industry 

 can be largely revived if the new hybrid races are introduced and 

 if a competent European officer is appointed to organise the intro- 

 duction. The problem varies greatly with different regions, but the 

 essential improvements throughout are expert organisation and the 

 supply of good strains of silkworms. 



(C566) a2 



