410 



Ward (J. M.). Cultivation of the Plum. — Agric. Gaz. Tasmania^ 

 ■ Hobart, xxiii, no. 3, March 1915, pp. 91-95. 



The most important insect pest of the plum in Tasmania is Enocam- 

 jjoides limacina {Selandria cerasi), the pear slug. It can be well con- 

 trolled by spraying the foliage early in January with lead arsenate, 

 5 lb. to 100 gals, water. Plums are also sometimes attacked by the 

 San Jose scale, Asjyidiotus perniciosus. 



The East Africa Protectorate Coconut Preservation Ordinance, 1915. 



[Received from the Colonial Office, 24th April 1915.] 



In this ordinance, provision is made for the inspection of any land 

 upon which coconut is grown. The owner of any tree which is dead or 

 dying or is attacked by insects, is required to remove and destroy it, 

 or to deal with it according to the direction of the inspector. A fine 

 not exceeding Rs. 75 shall be imposed on any person who neglects 

 to carry out the inspector's instructions. Accumulations of vegetable 

 refuse, including dying trees, coconut timber, etc., which would be 

 likely to harbour insects, must be destroyed ; a fiiie, not exceeding 

 Rs. 150 can be imposed on any person who neglects or refuses to 

 remove such waste material. The CTOvernor may make such com- 

 pensation as he thinks fit to any owner who is required to destroy a 

 coconut tree. The Governor in Comicil may make rules (1) for regu- 

 lating the importation of seed coconuts or coconuts in husk or shell ; 

 (2) for regulating the procedure to be adopted with regard to insect 

 pests, and (3) for the construction on coconut plantations of traps for 

 insects. 



DupoNT (P. R.). Insect Notes of Curator, Botanic Station, Seychelles, 

 18th March 1915. [MS. received from Colonial Office, 23rd April 

 1915.] 



The small black ant, Technomyrmex alhipes, and scale-insects, the 

 principal injurious insects of the archipelago, have been destroyed in 

 large numbers by the recent rain. The hilly nature of the country 

 renders poisonous solutions of little use against T. alhipes. Pending the 

 discovery of a harmless natural parasite, the best method is the use 

 of trap boxes, in addition to the systematic destruction of the nests 

 by spraying with soda resin solutions. Certain varieties of banana 

 are subject to the attack of Sphenophorus striates, the banana borer, 

 while other species are immune. The suckers of infested varieties 

 are usually damaged to such an extent that replanting each year is 

 necessary. A beetle which preys on the borer is known in Java and 

 has already been introduced into Fiji. A consignment of Gros Michel 

 banana suckers imported from Fiji were infested by Cosmopolites 

 {Sphenophorus) sordidus. The same variety is also subject to a fungus 

 which may possibly predispose the plant to an attack by weevils. 



Report on the Agricultural Department, St. Vincent, for the year ended 

 31st March \%U.^Barhados, 1914. 



Experiments were carried out during 1914 to determine whether 

 starch and arrowroot were subject to the attacks of grain beetles 



