514 



The decline in the lac industry, which reached its lowest level in 

 1915, was followed by a rapid recovery due to fresh uses having been 

 found for shellac, hence the present is a very opportune time to bring 

 about necessary changes in the methods of cultivation. The 

 antiquated system of removing lac before swarming has taken place has 

 resulted in a shortage of the crude material, the lac insect, in spite 

 of its prolificness not having been able to hold its own against the 

 increase of parasites and predators. This can be avoided by removing 

 all the lac from trees a fortnight before swarming takes place and 

 putting it on trees already pruned for the purpose, experience having 

 shown that produce from pruned trees is richer in resinous contents 

 than that from impruned trees, and that the successive broods thus 

 reared are less liable to disease than others. Care should also be 

 taken that only healthy brood- lac is used, and that introduced 

 material should be only from localities comparatively free from 

 parasites and predators, and from those having similar chmatic 

 conditions. It has also been found best to- transfer brood-lac always 

 to its own specific host-plant. The establishment of nurseries in 

 areas at present over-run with Butea frondosa would render them 

 productive and thus benefit their rural population. 



Patti (M.). Per combattere gll Afldi. [To combat Aphids.] -JZ. 

 Rinnova7nento Economico-Agrario, Trapani, xii, no. 6, June 1918, 

 pp. 89-90. [Received 27th September 1918.] 



This is a popular article on measures for combating Aphids injuring 

 cultivated plants in Sicily. 



BekSmpfung der Obstbaumschadlinge. [The Combating of Fruit Tree 

 Pests.] — Schweiz. Zeilschr. Obst- u. Weinbau, Frauenfeld, xxvii, 

 no. 18, 7th September 1918, p. 287. 



The brown-tail moth, Nygmia phaeorrhoea (Euproctis chrysorrhoea)^ 

 has appeared in some abundance on black-thorn and hawthorn hedges 

 in various districts of Switzerland. Such hedges should be 

 destroyed and replaced by the mulberry, where a living hedge is 

 required. 



Reports on the State of Crops in each Province of Spain. — Bol. Agric. 



Tecnica y Economicu, Madrid, x, no. 115, July 1918, pp. 609-630. 



[Received 1st October 1918.] 

 In Cordoba the acorn crop is considered to be totally lost owing 

 to attack by Tortrix viridana. In Jaen ohves have suffered from 

 infestation by Phloeothrips oleae. Apple trees in the province of 

 Madrid have been injured by Hyponometita malinellus and Cydia 

 pomonella, and a leaflet is being distributed regarding these insects. 

 In Toledo locusts have caused damage. Clysia ambiguella has done a 

 certain amount of injury m Viscaya. 



Work connected with Insect and Fungus Pests and their Control. — 



Rept. Agric. Dept. St. Lucia 1917-1918, Barbados, 1918, pp. 5-15. 

 [Received 30th September 1918.] 

 A special visit was made to St. Lucia by Dr. J. C. Hutson in July,, 

 for the purpose of investigating the habits of Cosmopolites sordidus 



