317 



The chief parasite, Piinpla roborator, F., can only reach the larvae 

 after the bolls have opened, and it ceases to breed in January. Pulling 

 up the cotton sticks causes the green bolls on them to dry and open. 

 It is suggested that the pulling up of all cotton sticks should be 

 enforced at as early a date as possible consistent with the picking of 

 the crop. The date should be fixed every year for each district. All 

 old regulations regarding the treatment of seed should remain essen- 

 tially unaltered, but should be strengthened in details. All cotton 

 should be ginned before 1st May, whereas under the present law 

 imginned cotton can be kept in licensed, moth-proof stores from 

 1st May to 1st August. Moreover, in most ginneries piles of low- 

 grade cotton, refuse, sweepings, etc., are allowed to accumulate in 

 the yards until the end of the season and are then sold for re-sifting. 

 This material contains many larvae that escape treatment altogether. 

 A law should be passed forbidding the sale of this untreated material, 

 except, in special cases, to other ginners who have the necessary 

 apparatus for treating the seed. 



The importance of propaganda and researcli to discover and 

 encourage the best methods of cultivation and of dealing with the 

 pest is emphasised. 



Hall (W. J.). Report on a Preliminary Campaign against the Hibiscus 

 Mealy Bug in the Cairo Nursery Gardens. — Agric. Jl. Egypt, 

 Cairo, x, 1920, pp. 1-6. [Received 26th April 1921. i 



Owing to an outbreak in Cairo of a new mealy-bug, provisionally 

 called the Hibiscus mealy-bug, a campaign was organised to combat 

 the pest. The food-plants include Hibiscus, Grevillea, mulberr}/, 

 Erythrina,Zizyphiis, Ccratonia, Acalypha, Acacia I ebbek and Bauhinia. 

 Citrus, jasmin, quince, oleander, Poinciana and Jacaranda are also 

 occasionally attacked, but the infestation is dependent on the proximity 

 of Hibiscus, Grevillea, mulberry or other highly suscepti])le trees. 

 Guavas may also be attacked. The insect is generally found at the 

 end of the shoots, causing them to become gnarled and deformed. 



The campaign lasted 32 days, and details of the work are given ; 

 infested portions were pruned off and then sprayed with paraffin 

 emulsion. The stock solution consisted of 2 gals, paraffin, 1 gal. 

 water and i lb. hard soap. For use this was diluted with five times 

 its volume of water. All infested portions were burnt or at least 

 passed through fire. Heavily infested Hibiscus plants were uprooted 

 and burnt, and the same treatment was sometimes applied to Acalvpha 

 trees. By removing the centres of infection, it will be comparatively 

 easy to suppress infestation in the future. Altogether 57 nurseries 

 were treated, covering a total area of about 199 acres and necessitating 

 the use of 606 gals, of paraffin. In future a similar campaign could 

 be carried out for about one-third of the cost, but it should be started 

 considerably earher. The advisability of making frequent inspections 

 and the organisation of .systematic work throughout the winter is 

 emphasised. 



Adair (F. W.). Note on Fruit Flies occurring in or which might be 

 introduced into Egypt.— .4^'rzc. //. Egypt, Cairo, x, 1920, j)}). 

 18-20. [Received 26th April 1921.] 



The only fruit-fiies hitherto known in Fgypt are Ccratilis capUala, 

 Wied. ; Dacus longistylus, Wied., in pods of the large milk weed, 



