400 



More (J. D.). La Vaquita o Piche de la Batata. [The Sweet Potato 

 Weevil, Cylas foniiicayiiis.] — Porto Rico Insular Expi. Sta., 

 Rio Piedras, Circ. 34, January 1921, 6 pp., 1 plate. [Received 

 21st June 1921.] 



No new information is given in this circular on the sweet potato 

 weevil, Cylas formicarius, and the measmes to be taken against it. 



GoNzAi.Ez Rios (P.). El Cultivo del Cocotero en Puerto Rico. 



[Coconut Cultivation in Porto Rico.] — Porto Rico Insular Expi. 

 Sta., Rio Piedras, P.R., Circ. 35, February 1921, 20 pp., 4 figs. 

 [Received 21st June 1921.] 



The insect enemies of the coconut in Porto Rico are of little import- 

 ance. They include the scales, Aspidiotiis destructor and Vinsonia 

 stellifera, which may be combated with a kerosene-soap spray, and a 

 beetle, Strategus quadrifoveatus, which may be collected or killed on 

 or in the palms, care being taken to keep the plantations clear of dead 

 stems or other refuse. 



Criddle (N.). Birds in Relation to Insect Control. — Canadian Eield 

 Nat., Ottawa, xxxv, pt. 8, November 1920, pp. 151-153. 



The value of birds as destroyers of noxious insects is discussed. 

 Although parasites may be considered of most value in controlling 

 serious insect outbreaks, birds, by destroying the surplus under normal 

 conditions, may actually prevent serious infestations. 



Ballou (H. a.). Pink Bollworm Notes. — Agric. News, Barbados, 

 XX, no. 496, 30th April 1921, p. 138. 



The pink bollworm [Platyedra gossypiella], which has recently been 

 spreading over the West Indian Islands [R.A.E., A, ix, 99], has now 

 been reported from Anguilla. In future, okra {Hibiscus esculentus) 

 will have to be controlled by the same regulations as to a close season 

 that apply to cotton. While all varieties of cotton are attacked, 

 okra and Indian hemp ( H. cannabinus) are food-plants in India, and 

 okra is reported to be attacked in Mexico, but is not affected in Hawaii 

 and Texas, where cotton seems to be the only suitable food-plant. 

 As yet, Montserrat is the only West Indian Island where okra has 

 been observed to be attacked, but the same thing will probably be 

 found to occur in the other islands. There is a great danger that, 

 with the reduction in planting consequent upon the present low price 

 of cotton, cultivation may be abandoned on some areas, and the 

 land left uncleared of the old cotton plants. This will be a serious 

 problem for inspectors to deal with. The necessity is pointed out 

 of registering every plot of cotton grown in each island, and during 

 the cotton season each of these should be visited, and all patches of 

 wild cotton located and destroyed. Every plant growing beside 

 labourers' houses should likewise be marked and destroyed or cut 

 down before the close season. 



In spite of the fact that P. gossypiella is capable of reducing the 

 yield of cotton by 70 or 80 per cent., it is considered possible to control 

 it sufficiently for satisfactory crops to be obtained. 



