435 



possible to make the mixture still cheaper by the substitution of 

 liquid fuel for fish-oil. A mixture of resin and Ceylon soap, suitably 

 diluted, is proving of great value as an insecticide for scale-insects 

 and Aphids, being cheap, easily made and less caustic than the contact 

 poisons in general use ; though against X. fornicatus its use can be 

 recommended as a preventive measure only. 



Jardixe (N. K.). Additional Facts regarding Tea Tortrix.— Troj^. 

 Agriculturist, Peradeniya, 1, no. 6, June 1918, pp. 375-376. 



The life-history of the tea tortrix [Homona cojfearin] has now been 

 worked out in detail. The average length of the various periods 

 proves to be 10 days for the egg-stage, 4 to 5 weeks for the larval, 

 1 week for the pupal, and 1 week of adult life, the whole cycle thus 

 requiring 6 to 8 weeks. At 4,000 ft. altitude the chief difference 

 in the life-history is in the egg-stage, this period being longer by 

 1 to 3 days. During times of particularly low temperature at high 

 elevations the development of the larvae may also be considerably 

 delayed. 



It has frequently been noticed that a sudden appearance of the 

 pest has occurred in the centre of a field that was free from it a few 

 days before. Investigation has showm that in such cases the insect 

 can generally be found infesting such shade-trees as Grevillea, Acacia, 

 Alhizzia or dadap in close proximity, on which it has propagated and 

 then, through overcrowding or lack of food, has dropped on to the 

 tea. As regards the loss of crops due to this pest, tea to the value 

 of £5,040 has been destroyed on 3,150 acres. 



Warburton (C). Annual Report of the Zoologist for 1917.— J/. R. 



Agric. Soc. England, London, Ixxviii, 1917, pp. 209-219. 

 [Received 7th August 1918.] 



Forest trees were attacked during the year by pests, such as beech 

 coccus [Cryptococcus fagil and pine-shoot toitrix [Rhyacionia buoliana], 

 but the most important and unusual case was the damage to holly 

 trees in Derbyshire by the larvae of a small moth, Rhopobofa 

 (Grapholitha) naevana, which attacked the terminal shoots and buds, 

 disfiguring and almost destroying exceptionally fine trees. A severe 

 pruning of the trees in June before the hatching of the new brood, 

 followed by the burning of all fallen leaves and rubbish beneath 

 them, if persisted in for two or three years, should result in the 

 extermination of this pest. 



Cereals were attacked by frit fly [Oscinella frit], which appeared 

 in oats owing to late sowmg on account of the weather, beneficial 

 results however being obtained from an early dressing of sodium 

 nitrate. Wireworms were very destructive to oats in districts where 

 the tilth was good, the only good growth occurring on patches where 

 the soil had been consolidated by the pressure of stacks or traction 

 engines. Barley succeeds better than oats in infested land, owing 

 to its more rapid germination. 



Peas and beans were attacked by all the usual pests, but the 

 Sitones weevil was injurious to an unprecedented extent. The most 

 effective remedial measure was a heavy dressing of soot. Addict, 



