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magpies, plovers, etc. These grubs have been recently reported to 

 attack wheat, generally in patches. The use of a poisoned bait, 

 consisting of lucerne, grasses, succulent weeds, etc., cut up into small 

 pieces and dipped in lead arsenate (1 lb. to 30 gallons of water), is 

 suggested. If only small patches are aJEfected, watering the plants 

 with lead arsenate will give good results. Some species of Heteronyx 

 cluster on the tops of eucalyptus trees, often stripping them of every 

 young leaf. 



French, Junr. (C). The potato-moth Phthorimaea operculella, Zeller 

 {Lita solanella, Bois.) ; Recent spraying experiments in Gippsland. — 

 Jl. DepL Agric. Victoria, Melbourne, xiii, no. 10, 11th October 

 1915, pp. 614-618, 2 figs. [Received 1st May 1916.] 



Phthorimaea operculella has been known in Australia since 1854 and 

 is the worst potato pest in the Commonwealth. Owing to the excep- 

 tionally dry weather, it has been very plentiful during the past two 

 seasons and in Gippsland and elsewhere the injury has been very great. 

 In some cases the whole crop was destroyed when the plants were 

 from 4 to 6 inches high, and in many instances growers had to discard 

 fully two-thirds of the tubers owing to the depredations of the cater- 

 pillars. There are two broods of moths. The first, or winter brood, 

 may destroy the young plants and thereby ruin the crops. The moths 

 of the second brood deposit their eggs on the potatoes themselves, 

 when the tubers are stored or are in the field. Details of the life-history 

 are given. It is pointed out that a few handfuls of potato plants are 

 frequenty thrown over the top of a sack containing newly dug 

 potatoes. If the plants are infested and the sack is left in the field for 

 a few days, the caterpillars will be distributed throughout its contents. 

 Spraying with lead arsenate is advisable when the moths first appear. 

 As a deterrent against oviposition on the plants, coal-tar water may 

 be used. The formula is as follows : 1 lb. of coal-tar is boiled in 

 2 gals, of water and, while hot, from 50 to 100 gals, of water are added. 

 In cases where spraying is to be carried out, spaces should be left 

 between every few rows of potatoes for the horse drawing the spraying 

 pimap to pass. The pump recommended is a barrel-pump mounted 

 on two wheels ; at the rear a rod twice as long as the axle supports 

 five spray-nozzles at about the height of the axle and another five 

 almost at ground-level. Such a pump costs £35 wath iron droppers 

 and £37 10s. with copper ones. Owing to potato-growers neglecting 

 to keep the moth in check, potato spraying should be made 

 compulsory. 



Dudgeon (G. C). Egyptian Agricultural Products. Sorghum vulgare, 

 Pers. {Andropogon sorghum, Brot.), the Great Millet (Durra Baladi 

 in Egypt), also Sorghum hakpense, Pers. (Garawao). — Ministry of 

 Agric, Egypt, Cairo, no. la, 1915, 32 pp. [Received 1st May 

 1916.] 



This paper gives an account of the cultivation and uses of Sorghum 

 vulgare and S. halepense. The first-named is attacked by Sesamia 

 cretica, the eggs of which are probably laid on the stem close to the 

 ground. The larvae, upon hatching, bore into the stalk and may 

 cause the death of the plant. A tunnel is frequently formed reaching 



