79 



grain in open-mouthed receptacles and to cover it at the top with a 

 layer of fine, dry sand [R.A.E., A. viii. 65]. Illustrations show how 

 various types of receptacles can be adapted to this method. 



KuNHi Kannax (K.). Mercury as an Insecticide (Abstract).— i?^/>/. 

 Proc. 3rd Enfom. Meeting, Piisa, Febntarv 1919, Calcutta, ii, 

 1920, pp. 761-762. 

 The practice of placing a drop of mercury in the receptacle used for 

 storing pulse crops obtained for many years among the natives of 

 Mysore, though recently it has almost died out. Though this has been 

 regarded rather as a superstition than as a practical remedy, experi- 

 ments have shown the value of the practice, as it prevents the multi- 

 plication of the beetles infesting the grain, particularly in small 

 vessels of a few cubic feet capacity. The action is evidently on the 

 eggs, and the process is found to have the same effect on the eggs of 

 silkworms. It is thought that the subject should have further 

 investigation. 



Shroff (K. D.). List of the Pests of the Stored Products, Spices 

 and Drugs, in Burma. — Rcpt. Proc 3rd Entom. Meeting, Piisa, 

 February 1919, Calcutta, ii, 1920, pp. 762-763. 

 The contents of this paper are indicated by its title. 



Kasergode (R. S.). Potato Preservation in the Bombay Presidency.— 



Kept. Proc. 3rd Entom. Meeting, Pusa, February 1919, Calcutta, 



ii, 1920, pp. 763-770. 

 Potatoes are an important crop in India, and they require to be 

 preserved from one harvest to another, both for seed purposes and for con- 

 sumption. Under existing conditions they are stored in pits dug in the 

 ground, generally under a tree, and covered with a roof of straw and 

 leaves. When dug up, they are veiy hea\ily infested with the potato 

 moth [Phthorimaea opercufella], as well as being attacked by perhaps 

 as many as five different kinds of rot. In the case of infested potatoes, 

 fumigation with carbon bisulphide kills the larvae and pupae, but has 

 no action on the eggs unless they are exposed to the fumes for 48 

 hours or more. If the tubers are fumigated before the first generation 

 of moths has oviposited, breeding will not take place in them. Petrol 

 can be substituted, using one pint to every cubic foot of space and 

 exposing for 24 hours ; the larvae and 90 per cent, of the pupae are 

 killed in this way. The potatoes should not be fumigated for at least 

 two weeks after harvesting, to avoid injury to the skins by handling. 

 Thorough selection before storage and ventilation of the storehouse 

 will also help to preser\T them both from infestation and from rot. 



Ghosh (C. C). Bee-keeping in Indi&.^Rept. Proc. 3rd Entom. Meeting, 

 Pusa, February 1919, Calcutta, ii, 1920. pp. 770-782, 1 plate. 

 Bee-keeping in India should, with improved methods, become a very 

 profitable industry. An immediate improvement could be effected 

 by the introduction of proper methods of extracting the honey from 

 the wild combs. At present the honey produced in India is not market- 

 able, and is consumed locally where produced, as it will not keep. A 

 further necessary innovation would be the introduction of Italian 



