428 



Soil grubs, particularly Strategns iitaniis, infesting sugar-canes have 

 been successfully controlled by handfuls of bagasse, mixed with 

 Paris green, inserted in the soil at regular intervals of 5 feet apart. 

 This mixture can also be added to manure spread on the land, or 

 inserted in holes after the cane has been planted. 



The experimental planting of varieties of cotton in 1918 was 

 unsuccessful owing to the continuous rainy weather ; the fields 

 W3re overrun with noxious plants, and immense numbers of cotton 

 worms [Alabama argillacea] appeared. Progress was made in experi- 

 ments to produce varieties of cotton resistant to or immune from 

 the blister mite [Eriophyes gossypii]. 



Careful observations w^ere made to determine whether maize grown 

 on cane banks would be more liable to cane-borer attacks, but no 

 ill effects were noticed. 



Some Hopi maize obtained from Washington for hybridising 

 purposes, when planted on two occasions, succumbed to attacks by 

 Dicranotropis maidis. This insect is the worst maize pest in the 

 islands, and as it has other food-plants than maize it is difficult to 

 recommend any remedial measures. Acclimatised maize is more 

 resistant than newly introduced varieties ; but all kinds, if planted 

 during the dry months, are liable to be killed by this pest. 



Corn-ear worms [Heliothis obsoleta] often eat the hearts of young 

 maize plants, but in favourable weather they outgrow the attacks. 

 A pinch of corn meal containing 5 per cent, lead arsenate placed in 

 the heart of each plant will kill the larvae. 



In leguminous crop trials made during the year it was found that 

 Phaseolus Innaius (Madagascar bean) and Canavalta beans were not 

 attacked by caterpillars. Andropogon sorghum sudanensis (Sudan 

 grass) is not recommended for extensive planting as it harbours the 

 sorghum midge [Contarinia sorghicpla]. 



Smith (L.). Work at St. Croix Station. — Kept. Virgin Islands 

 Agric. Expi. Sta., 1920, Washington, B.C., 18th April 1921, 

 pp. 7-20, 4 plates. 



Experiments in the control of soil grubs infesting sugar-cane were 

 continued [see preceding paper], a field being treated with 3 parts 

 of Paris green to 100 parts of bagasse, every 6 feet apart ; but the 

 results cannot be published until the harvest of 1921. 



The cotton yield was not so good as in 1'919, and in one instance 

 this was due to an early outbreak of Eriophyes gossvpii (blister mite) 

 as the result of imperfect uprooting and burning of old cotton in a 

 neighbouring field. It is urged that the cotton pest law be more 

 thoroughly carried out. One variety of cotton produced was 

 practically immune from E. gossypii ; but the third largest yield 

 was obtained from a variety that was heavily attacked. 



No variety of edible legumes gave satisfactory results except for 

 green manuring purposes. The poor yield was due to a kind of anthrac- 

 nose spread by Nezara viridula (green stink bug). 



Euscepcs bataiae (sweet potato weevil) infesting sweet potatoes 

 was successfully controlled by dipping the cuttings in kerosene-fusel 

 oil emulions before planting, which killed any eggs laid on the vines. 



Beet was an uncertain crop, as it was attacked at times by Pachy- 

 zancla hipunctalis (webworm). 



