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Rutherford (A.), Stauropus alternus, Wlk., the Lobster Caterpillar. 

 — Trop. Agric, Peradeniya, xliii, no, 5, November 1914, 

 pp. 380-381. 



The lobster caterpillar, Stauropus alternus, Wlk., appears to be 

 confined to single bushes of tea. Green, however, records a case where 

 a considerable acreage was destroyed in 1903. In addition to tea, it 

 has been recorded as feeding on cacao, mango, Alhizzia stipulata, 

 Acacia decurrens, Grevillea robusta, roses and other plants. A des- 

 scription of the caterpillar is given. In the case of a severe infes- 

 tation, when the caterpillars have reached some size, it is advisable 

 to prune the infested area and burn the prunings. Should an attack 

 be observed when the caterpillars are small and there is still a 

 considerable amount of fohage on the bushes, resort should be had to 

 an arsenical spray. Pupation takes place in a loose cocoon composed 

 of rather coarse, yellowish-white silk, spun between two leaves or in 

 the angles of the branches. The adult moth emerges in from seven to 

 ten days. The eggs are laid on both surfaces of the leaves, the col- 

 lection and burning of which provides a further means of control. 

 The appearance of the caterpillar and its potentialities for harm should 

 be known to every planter. 



Rutherford (A.). Heterodera radicicola, Muell., or "Eelworm." — 

 Trop. Agric, Peradeniya, xliii, no. 5, pp. 381-383. 



About the end of July, tea seedlings were found to be infested by 

 eelworms, Heterodera radicicola, Muell., which have also been recorded in 

 Ceylon on Alhizzia and peas. The control measures which are used in 

 the United States are given, steam and formalin being employed in 

 green-houses and seed-beds, and carbon bisulphide in the field. A 

 1 per cent, solution of commercial formalin is used at the rate of 1 to 

 1^ gallons per square yard, the soil being frequently stirred before 

 planting or replanting a week later. Deep cultivation and a liberal 

 appUcation of nitrogenous and potash fertilisers are useful in the field, 

 but carbon bisulphide, flooding, or starving out are the only means of 

 ridding the soil of this pest. To starve it out the land must be kept 

 free from vegetation for two years, or immune plants, such as the cow- 

 pea (iron variety), sorghum and Kaffir corn, must be grown for that 

 period. Where flooding is practicable, after all host plants have been 

 removed, a submergence of from 15 to 20 days has given favourable 

 results. Eelworms are very susceptible to drought, and if the ground 

 is deeply tilled after the rains and left untilled during the dry season, 

 their numbers will be greatly reduced. On the authority of Bessey, 

 a list of some of the many tropical plants susceptible to attack by 

 eelworms is given. 



Osservatorio Autonomo di Fitopatologia, Turin, Mthly. Leaflets, no. 1-12, 

 January-December 1914, 48 pp. 



The four-page monthly agricultural leaflets of the Osservatorio 

 Autonomo di Fitopatologia of Turin are each divided into two sections, 

 the first being advice for the current month and the second a record 

 of insect and fungus injury observed in the preceding one in Redmont. 



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