MONTHLY NOTES ON GRUBS AND OTHER CANE PESTS. 43 
As is well known in the district, Mango Park, the estate of the late 
J. D. Johnson, was once a centre of infestation. Mr. Johnson tried every 
suggested remedy, and, finally, the worst fields were thrown out of 
cultivation. I am therefore particularly interested in this estate, for it 
is no longer a grubby centre. The infestation is very slight this season, 
and only appears in one small field of ratoons, which received no ammonia 
and only slight cultivation, which was finished before the beetles flew. 
The crop throughout the estate is most promising this season, the 
foliage is a beautiful dark-green, and since the recent rains the growth 
has been most satisfactory. Only 123 acres are under cane, at present, 
but a much larger area could be worked if facilities were available. The 
present crop, which has been estimated at from 1,600 to 2,000 tons, could 
well be doubled by increased planting and more intensive cultivation. 
D1185 has been the principal crop on this estate, and at present 
77 acres of ratoons are of this variety. This cane is very resistant to 
drought, and, since most of the ratoons had a dressing of ammonia 
during January, the impetus to the growth is most remarkable. The 
application of this manure was followed by gentle rains, and the cane 
got the full benefit. 
The 46 acres of plant-cane was all put in late (August to Novem- 
ber), and it is worthy of note that the cane has no sign of grubs, although 
growing on the part of the farm which previously was always affected. 
A part of this cane is on land which has been out of cultivation for seven 
years, because it was considered too grubby for profitable working. 
Most of the plant-cane has had a dressing of about 4 ewt. meatworks 
manure per acre, and has made splendid growth, especially HQ 426 
(Clark’s seedling), which seems especially suited to that class of soil. 
It is double the size of the Badila, Goru, and D1135, planted at the same 
time, and covers the ground so that it has no weeds, which are abundant 
in the latter variety, because of its upright, sparse growth. 
Present observations would indicate that it is possible to grow 
bumper crops on even the worst infested locations by giving care to 
cultural methods alone. 
Infested portions must be planted late, so that the cultivation 
coincides with the flight of the beetles, particular care being given to 
forcing cultivation during the first three weeks after the beetles’ appear- 
ance. Manure also has an important bearing thereon, especially the 
nitrates, if applied at the time the cane is beginning to suffer from grubs. 
Nitrates give the cane increased vigour, and forces new roots to replace 
those that are eaten off. 
Mr. W. P. Jones called my attention to one of his fields, which 
demonstrates the value of intensive cultivation. He had the ground 
ploughed eight times previous to planting in October. This cane is now a 
very dense stand on the serub land, and is about 10 feet high. It has only 
had about half a bag of ammonia per acre, but the colour is excellent. 
