226 



Knowles (C. H.). Memorandum of Work in Connection with Scale 

 on Bananas. — Bept. Agric. Fiji, Suva, Pamphlet 6, 20tli June 

 1914, 3 pp. [Received 30th March 1917.] 



This pamphlet describes the work done by the Department of 

 Agricultm'e in connection Nvith the outbreak of scale-insects on bananas 

 dating from October 1912, when the jDresence of this pest was first 

 noticed, up to June 1914. The various control measures which 

 have been instituted are described [see this Review, Ser. A, i, p. 136, 

 and iii, p. 91]. The results obtained on the growing plants were less 

 satisfactory than might have been expected, probably owing to care- 

 lessness in the methods of application rather than to the sprays 

 recommended. The importance of fumigation of bananas before 

 exportation, as a supplementary measure to spraying, is emphasised. 



Knowles (C. H.). Cacao. -Dept. Agric, Fiji, Suva, Pamphlet no. 17, 

 1916, 4 pp. [Received 30th March 1917.] 



The insect pests of cacao recorded in this pamphlet include the rose 

 beetle (Adcretus umhrosus), which destroys the leaves, practically 

 defoliating young plants. The latter may be protected by placing 

 pieces of split bamboo about an inch wide and about 18 inches long 

 roimd the plants in the form of a fence. Mealy bugs [Pseudococcus], 

 if unchecked, are capable of doing extensive damage to the pods, which, 

 if heavily infested, become completely withered and dried up. This 

 pest is easily controlled by spraying with kerosene or lime-sulphur. 

 Two shot-hole borers, Xglopertha lifuana and X. castanoptera, attack 

 the trunk and branches of cacao trees. The former also attacks 

 Cassia nodosa, a shade tree. The damage done by these beetles is 

 not sufficiently extensive at present to call for remedial measures. 



Maize. — Dept. Agric, Fiji, Suva, Pamphlet no. 18, 1916, 5 pp. 

 [Received 30th March 1917.] 



The chief pests of maize in Fiji attack the stored grain and include 

 a Pyralid moth and the grain weevil {Calandra granaria). A method 

 of destroying these and other insects by super-heating the store-houses 

 is now coming into use in large mills and not only proves cheaper than 

 fumigation, but dispenses with the risk of fire connected with the use of 

 carbon bisulphide or of poisoning with cyanide of potassium. On a 

 small scale, however, carbon bisulphide is very satisfactory, if the 

 necessary precautions are taken. 



The Lime {Citrus limonum). — Dept. Agric, Fiji, Suva, Pamphlet 

 no. 22, 1916, 4 pp. [Received 30th March 1917.] 



The insect pests of limes in Fiji are the orange snow scale {Chionaspis 

 citri) and the California red scale {Ckrysamphalus aurantii). These 

 scale-insects often do considerable damage before their presence is 

 detected. Periodical spraying with lime-sulphur or other insecticides 

 should be carried out and a constant watch maintained for the appear- 

 ance of the scale, as immediate treatment is advisable. 



