Monthly Notes on Grubs and other Cane Pests. 



By J. F. Illingworth. ^ 



INTRODUCTION. 



Any information upon the subject of white grubs is of such far-reaching 

 importance that it should be readily available in every sugar-growing 

 country. Furthermore, these notes, though they have appeared in 

 scattered publications of the State, are here presented in a combined 

 form, more accessible to our own growers, and more adaptable to filing in 

 libraries. It is considered best to present them in their original form, 

 as they were prepared, month by month, so that the progress of the 

 investigation may be noted. 



As soon as I was able to make a brief survey of the situation, after 

 my arrival in, Queensland, I outlined the following questions, seeking 

 information from experienced growers. These were published in the 

 ""Australian Sugar Journal," August and September, 1917: — • 



(1) How long is newly-cleared scrub land free from grub 



attack ? 



(2) Have you any experience with Mauritius bean as a green 



inanure following failure of the cane crop? 



(3) Have you used any other form of green manure success- 



fully? 



(4) Have you any land that is now free from grubs that was 



formerly infested? 



(5) Have you had any experience in ploughing under the 



trash on infested land ? 



(6) Have you any experience in the treatment of infested 



land with nitrate of soda or other chemical fertilisers? 



(7) "What is your experience in the treatment of infested land 



with meatworks manure ? 



(8) Have you any experience in the treatment of infested land 



with stable manure? 



(9) Have you any experience in late planting on infested 



soils — say, December ? 



(10) Have you ever known grubs to attack cane on forest 



land? 



I hoped from the answers to these questions to compile a lot of 

 ■valuable information, which might aid us materially in our study of 

 "cane grubs and their control. I was disappointed in the result, how- 

 -ever, for, as I have since learned, the more intelligent grower does not 



