202 



untreated pits had not been placed alongside each other, as the beetles 

 would probably follow the line of least resistance and breed in exposed 

 breeding-places rather than trouble to find the covered ones. Top 

 dressing with sand or market refuse is not advocated for Malaya, 

 on the grounds of sanitation and also the difficulties of proper super- 

 vision, as it is thought the refuse might easily be exposed by rain. 

 The chief problem remaining in Malaya seems to be the destruction 

 of village refuse and manure heaps, and for this purpose simple and 

 inexpensive incinerators are advocated. Such an incinerator and its 

 possibilities will be described in a subsequent paper. The author 

 considers that the wisest procedure with coconut stumps in Malaya is 

 to cut them up and bum them in heaps ; burjdng, although permitted 

 by law, is considered an objectionable practice from a sanitation point 

 of view, even if well done. 



Pit traps are considered undoubtedly useful under certain con- 

 ditions, but it is thought that to rely upon the owners of small estates 

 in Malaya for the regular collection of the insects in the pits would 

 lead to disaster. The poisoning of heaps intended for manurial pur- 

 poses might be recommended in extreme cases, but the fact that more 

 than nine months must elapse before use tends to preclude any 

 advantage that might accrue from this practice. The author is 

 convinced that if the estate owners in Malaya were to destroy the 

 breeding-places in the vicinity of coconut palms, and if the village 

 authorities would show active interest in the destruction of village 

 refuse, there would be no need for adopting other remedial measures 

 for Oryctes. 



South (F. W.). Work of the Inspection Staff, April 1st to June 30th 



1921. — Agric. Bull. F.M.S., Kuala Lumpur, ix, no. 2, April- 

 June 1921, pp. 155-158. [Received 14th February 1922.] 



Numerous local attacks of Brachartona catoxantha have been recorded 

 during the quarter under review, but the moth has generally been 

 checked by natural enemies, especially by a fungus disease. In one 

 somewhat serious case, involving about 200 acres of coconuts, the 

 remedial measiires used have been netting the moths and spreading the 

 fungus, either by pinning infected leaves amongst the trees or by 

 spraying trees with water containing the fungus taken from pure 

 cultures. Some success has been obtained, and the work is being 

 continued. 



The skins of limes in Perak are mined by the larvae of a Dipteron, 

 which causes the fall of many immature fruits. 



Campi-ei.l (J. A.) & Taylor (W. H.). Lemon-culture. Directions 

 for New Zealand Growers. — N.Z. Jl. Agric, Wellington, xxiii, 

 no. 6, 20th December 1921, pp. 330-335. ' 



A brief account is given of the chief pests of lemon trees and 

 the methods of controlling them. They include I eery a purchasi 

 (cottony cushion scale), against which Novius cardinalis has been 

 introduced; Saissctia (Lecanium) oleae (black scale), controlled by 

 the introduced Coccinellid, Orcus chalvbaeus ; Chrysomphalus aurantii 

 [Aspidiotus coccineus) ; C. {A.) rossi (round black scale); Diaspis 

 santali ; Pseudococcus {Dactylopius) adonidum ; Myzus cerasi (black 

 aphis) ; Tortrix excessana (leaf-roller) ; thrips ; and borers. The 

 importance of good cultivation and clean surrovmdings for the 

 prote.:tion of the trees against pests and diseases is emphasised. 



