80 



Lygus invitus, Say, and the red apple-bugs, Heterocordylvs malinus,. 

 Reut., and Lygidea mendax, Rent., are more active in this direction, and 

 the possibihty of j)lants becoming infected through the lesions caused 

 by them cannot be dismissed as improbable. 



Johnston (J. R.). Cultivo del Cocotero. [Cultivation of the Coconut 

 Palm.]- — Estacion Experimental Agronomica, Havana, 1915, Circular 

 no. 49, 11 pp., 3 plates. [Received 4th December 1916.] 



The rhinoceros beetle is a serious j)est of coconut in Havana. 

 Spraying with petroleum soap has been found effective, as has also 

 the following preparation : resin, 20 lb. ; caustic soda, 5 lb. ; whale-oil^ 

 25 lb. ; with water sufficient to make 100 gallons of solution. 



Van Hermann (H. A.) & Cunliffe (R. S.). Cultivo de Hortaliza y 



Viandas. [Vegetable Growing.] — Estacion Experimental Agrono- 

 mica, Havana, Circular no. 51, 1916, pp. 75, 17 figs. 



Vegetables in Cuba do not appear to suffer greatly from the attacks: 

 of insects. Lead arsenate is used against biting insects, while thrips 

 and other insects that suck the juices of plants can be controlled by 

 tobacco solutions," or strong soap. Potatoes have recently been 

 attacked in various parts of the island by a new pest, resembling the 

 caterpillar that attacks the tobacco leaf ; this insect perforates stored 

 potatoes, rendering them useless as food. The only known remedy is 

 to cover the storage rooms so as to prevent the adult insects from 

 laying their eggs in the tubers. The weevil, Cylas formicari/iis, attacks 

 sweet-potatoes, boring into the tubers. There is no remedy for this, 

 but the damage can be reduced to a minimum by sowing in light soil 

 and gathering the crop as soon as mature, so that the tubers are not 

 left exposed above the ground. Egg-]Dlants, tomatoes and red-pepper 

 are attacked by crickets, flea-beetles, ants, caterpillars, and Aphids ; 

 Bordeaux mixture should be used as a spray against them. 



GiEARDi (I.). Pulgones de los Vege tales. [Plant Aphids.] — Revista 

 Agricola, Bogota, ii, no. 5, May 1916, pp. 303-308. [From Revista 

 del Ministerio de Indnstrias.] [Received 8th December 1916.] 



Apart from such well-known pests as Phylloxera, attacking grape- 

 vines and the woolly apple-aphis [Eriosoma lanigerum], there are many 

 other Aphids which cause serious damage in Colombia. They include : 

 Aphis persicae, abundant on peach trees during summer and autumn, 

 while A. mnygdali is more harmful when the trees begin to bud ; 

 A. cydoniae on quinces, though not very numerous ; A. aiirantH on 

 oranges, lemons and mandarins ; A. vitis on grape-vines in towns ; 

 A. rosae very numerous on roses ; A. solani on potatoes, tomatoes and 

 egg-plants, especially when they are infested by Phytophthora and other 

 fungi. Aphis brassicae is found on cabbages, turnips, mustard, etc., 

 and forms numerous colonies on the under-surface of the leaves of all 

 cruciferous plants. It does considerable damage in orchards, and 

 often completely destroys beds of seedling cabbages and Brussels 

 sprouts. Aphis rumicis (papaveris) attacks a great many plants, 

 chiefly beans, poppies, chrysanthemums, etc. Aphis lactucae occurs 



