16 Aujials Eutomological Society of America [Vol. IX, 



introduction of new pests before quarantine restrictions are 

 imposed, has followed. Fortunately, the continent appears to 

 be well supplied with natural means of control of a vigorous 

 kind, particularly as regards predatory insects such as ants 

 and coccinellids, in fact Australia has always been the happy 

 hunting ground for the lady-bird hunters. 



The Commonwealth Government of Australia did not on its 

 formation about fifteen years ago, assume any jurisdiction over 

 agricultural matters, but left the individual states in full control. 

 There is, therefore, no entomological work undertaken by the 

 Commonwealth Government beyond the administration of the 

 Federal Quarantine Act, which regulates the importation of 

 plants, etc., into the country; this Act, I believe, is administered 

 by the Department of Trade and Custom. As the entomolo- 

 gical work is carried on by the various States independently it 

 must be so described. 



New South Wales. Agriculture is one of the principal 

 industries of the State, the largest area being devoted to sheep 

 grazing. Cereals, corn, tobacco, deciduous and citrus fruits 

 and sugar cane are also grown successfully. Consequently 

 the range of insect pests encountered in the State is extensive. 

 The work of Mr. Walter W. Froggatt, the Government Ento- 

 mologist is well-known. While his sphere is New South Wales, 

 he carries on extensive correspondence with other parts of 

 Australia, with New Guinea, Fiji and other islands of the 

 Pacific. His experimental work is carried on at the various 

 Experiment Farms in the State and at a small station at Narara 

 experiments on the control of fruit flies, which constitute 

 perhaps the worst insect pest on the continent, are conducted. 

 Owing to the serious losses inflicted by various species of blow- 

 flies of the genus Calliphora on the sheep industry a special 

 field station has been maintained for several seasons for the 

 investigation of sheep maggot flies. 



Under the State Vine and Vegetation diseases Act a large 

 staff of inspectors is employed in different districts to see that 

 the regulations concerning spraying, etc., are carried out. 

 Imported fresh and dried fruits, seeds, etc., are subject to inspec- 

 tion and exported fruit is fumigated if required. An unusual 

 line of work consists in the certification of freedom from the 

 fowl tick {Argas persicae) of all the poultry going out of the 

 State. 



