453 



Garmax (H). The Effect of Paradichlorobenzene on the Viability of 

 Stored Seeds.— Seed World, Chicago, III., 17th February 1922, 

 p. 19. [Received 5th July 1922.1 



Paradichlorobenzene has proved of great value in Kentucky both 

 in preventing insect attack and in destroying existing pests. This 

 fumigation does not affect seed intended for sowing, but the effect 

 on the odour and taste of seed intended for food still remains to be 

 determined. The deterioration, if any, as a result of fumigation is 

 very slow and very slight. In some of the tests the fumigant was used 

 at the rate of 4-69 ounces to the cubic foot, which is more than is 

 needed to keep the seed free from pests. 



Insect Pests and Plant Diseases. — Repl. Agyic. DepL, Grenada, 1921, 

 Barbados, 1922, pp. 4-5. 



The insect pests recorded during 1921 are : Heliothrips ruhrocinctiis , 

 Giard (cacao thrips) ; Cremastogaster hrevispinosa, Mayr, var. minntior , 

 For. (acrobat ant) in association with Pseudococciis sp., against which 

 spraying experiments are being made ; an undescribed species of Choliis 

 [C. wattsi, Mshl.] causing serious damage to pineapples, though absent 

 where clean cultivation is practised; Tomaspis saccharina, Dist., 

 apparently controlled in some fields as a result of efficient cultural 

 methods and parasitic fungi ; Diatraea saccharalis, F. (sugar-cane moth 

 borer), greatly in evidence in neglected ratoon canes ; Rhynchophorus 

 paluiarum, L. (palm weevil), generally distributed and probably 

 transmitting Nematodes from dead coconut palms to healthy trees ; 

 the cotton-stainer, Dysdercus delauneyi, Leth., found wherever cotton 

 is grown or Malvaceous food-plants are present ; Calotermes halloui, 

 which is found on cacao plantations in different parts of the island 

 and may be controlled by proper tree surgery ; Aspidiotus destructor. 

 Sign. (Bourbon scale), less serious on coconuts than in 1920 ; and 

 Araecerus fascictilatus, DeG. [R.A.E., A, x, 276]. 



Cotton.— i^t'^^. Agric. Dept., Tortola {Virgin Islands), 1920-21, 

 Barbados, 1922, p. 6. 



Cotton pests in general were not very severe during 1920-21. 

 .Alabama argillacea (cotton worm) was most troublesome in December 

 and January, and Dysdercus andreae (cotton stainer) and Eriophyes 

 gossypii (leaf blister mite) appeared in isolated numbers during the 

 dry months of February and March. The pink bollworm [Platyedra 

 gossypiella] was discovered in various localities during June and July, 

 but owing to its late appearance it apparently caused no appreciable 

 damage to the cotton industry. Voluntary campaigns have been 

 undertaken, in order to prevent the establishment of this pest ; they 

 consist mainly in the burning and cleaning up of old cotton trees and 

 the abandonment of cotton-growing for one year. Legislation was 

 applied for at the end of the season so that future campaigns might 

 be carried out by the Experiment Station. 



Introduction of Pink Bollworm. — Rept. Agric. Dept., Montserrat, 

 1920-21, Barbados, 1922, pp. 10^11. 



The discovery of Platyedra [Gelechia) gossypiella (pink bollworm) in 

 Montserrat is reported upon, and the recommendations made for control 

 of this moth and the methods of carrying them out are quoted [R.A.E., 

 A, ix, 99, 324, 400, 4811. 



