16 MONTHLY NOTES ON GRUBS AND OTHER CANE PESTS. 
We sometimes hear criticism of the cultivation at Mossman, and it 
has been said that of the three kinds—extensive, intensive, and pre- 
tensive—theirs consisted largely of the latter. This is hardly just to the 
district, for the remark would never be made by one familiar with 
conditions there. Most of the Mossman soils are of a type very difficult 
io work under the climatic conditions. Consisting largely of clay, as 
mest of them do, it is necessary to work them when the moisture content 
is just right; and since they are usually either too dry, or too wet, it is 
a difficult matter to turn them up without lumping. As is well recognised. 
among the most experienced growers of the district, the abundant applica- 
tion of green crops will do much to alleviate this condition, and put the 
soil in better tilth, even without the application of lime, which is now 
at a prohibitive price. 
The rat pest, on some farms, is coming largely under control by 
clearing out weedy headlands and other areas bordering the canefields. 
This is done in some cases by fencing close to the cane, along streams 
and so forth, so that stock can be turned in to assist in keeping the waste 
places clean. It is an excellent idea, and if carried out generally, would 
do much to put the rats out of business. It certainly offers every facility 
for their natural enemies to get at them. 
As indicated above, I took advantage of the occasion to try to learn 
what factors were responsible for the control of white grubs in the dis- 
trict. It will be remembered that this section was once badly affected. 
Upon looking up the records at the mill, I found that after they 
started crushing in 1897 they paid out the following amounts for beetles 
and grubs collected :— 
5 
hes). fais 5 te a ae i 16 
1S99 | ue. ae 2 ie ne steno 
NEO vos id ay es ae e 88 
1900) “i ae a. ase sae) ts} 
190255 2 ee ve a: ae Se EODO 
19035. 2. ae Es aA Ske .. 456 
1904 .. Be a: 4; ae ssp 048 
1905 (the last year of the kanakas) Se GO 
1906... Bors ue Be 3 sae tebe 
During 1906 the growers decided to test the benefit of carbon: 
bisulphide, which had been recommended by French, the Victorian ento- 
mologist, for the control of the grubs, wherefore they discontinued 
payments for collecting the pest, and the practice was never resumed. 
However, as Mr. Harry S. Staples, who was mill chemist at the time, 
states in his report dated 16th August, 1910, the carbon bisulphide was 
not always satisfactory, and never came into general use. 
I was very much interested to learn, from the many interviews with 
growers, that the factors which we have been advocating are evidently 
