MONTHLY NOTES ON GRUBS AND OTHER CANE PESTS. 7 
trash. The waste from the ratoon crop should be worked in, and this 
followed with a heavy green crop of corn or beans to put the soil in 
prime condition for a new run of cane. If this regular rotation is 
followed up, the land will not deteriorate; and I feel rather confident 
that there will be a marked decrease in the injury from the grubs. 
A Stupy or THE Rootinc SYSTEMS OF OUR PRINCIPAL SUGARCANES. 
We have been making some investigation of the rooting systems, 
particularly in regard to depth, with the idea in mind that if we could 
get a variety which would root more deeply than Badila it would be 
more apt to stand up when attacked by grubs. We naturally looked 
to D1135, since this cane ratoons so well and has an erect growth. It 
is also the variety grown largely at Mossman, and is considered rather 
resistant to the attacks of grubs. Digging in the stools, we found that 
the principal roots of this cane extended downward, often to a depth 
of 16 or 18 inches, which is in marked contrast to Goru, with most of its 
roots extending laterally, often reaching across to the next row. D1135 
is a good milling cane, with plenty of fibre, and, even though it is of 
only average density, will be a valuable variety to grow if it can be 
shown that it is grub-resistant. There are several fields of this variety 
in the grub-infested region about Meringa, which so far are in very 
good condition. 
Notes ON LEPIDIOTA ALBOHIRTA. 
It is interesting to note that the beetles are very early in forming 
this season. We have been finding them, turned up by the plough, 
during the past several weeks. Apparently, many of the grubs pupated 
near the surface this season, so that many of them are uncovered or 
erushed in ploughing. Fully three-fourths of those observed were 
injured in this way, which seems to indicate that working the ground 
at this season, or earlier, was a profitable procedure. 
In following the plough it is very noticeable that all the grubs present 
in the upper 10 inches of soil are under the old stools of cane, and that 
many are eating right into the old stalks. 
In digging in a patch of blady grass, while searching for frencht 
grubs, I was surprised to find many of this common grey-back species. 
They were all in pupating c¢ells, from 1 to 2 feet deep. Such finds would 
indicate that we shall always have the beetles with us, for these native 
breeding-places can never be entirely done away with. 
Notes oN LEPIDIOTA FRENCHI. 
This troublesome species is also a native of grass lands; but it is 
particularly inimical to sugarcane, because it lasts over for two seasons. 
The grubs, which were fully grown and feeding on the young plant cane 
last November, had not yet changed to pup on the Ist of July, though 
