XVI 



90 per cent., but that, in the same valley, the opposite slope, S.W. and 

 S.E. (our cold slopes), the insect is not present above 5 per cent, although 

 the mortality of the trees is about the same. From this I gather either 

 that the insect is a secondary cause, or that the cold aspect is not favorable 

 to the development of the insect beyond the stage when they have damaged 

 the bark, and so more or less killed the tree. In slopes it is noticeable that 

 the lowest side of the tree is that attacked, where by washing from rauis 

 the more tender bark is exposed, and where very likely the drought cracks 

 it a little. My proposed remedies and modiis operandi for the prevention 

 of this evil are as follows ; — 



" 1. To remove all trees which are visibly affected before the insect 

 matures. This, through non-comprehension of the cause of disease, was 

 not done, and our estate and the adjoining one have suffered by the 

 presence of so many centres of evil left to take effect upon the surrounding 

 coffee. 



" 2. About the time the egg or young insect is still in or under the bark, 

 to keep a staff of men rubbing the trees round the roots with iron gloves, 

 or sticks, with sand, so as to crush the insect in its larva-state. 



" 3. About the time the insect emerges, to keep boys hunting for and 

 picking off the beetle as it adheres to the tree. 



" 4. To let the same boys search for newly-made holes of emergence, and 

 pass wires, etc., down them, so as to destroy the insects therein, in case the 

 beetle should have the habit of re-entering tlie hole as a cache during 

 the day. 



"Your member's suggestion as to the non-destruction of insectivorous 

 birds is a very good one ; but I am afraid they are too few, or rather the 

 insect-life is so immense, that they will not play a very important part in 

 helping us. No one shoots birds in the bush round us." 



Eeferring to one of the modes adopted by Mr. Gooch for kiUing the 

 larvae, Mr. Dunning suggested that rubbing the bark of the trees round 

 the roots, as stated, would hardly have the desired effect, and would probably 

 damage the tree more than the insect. Dr. Horn (of Philadelphia) also 

 doubted the efficacy of the remedy of inserting wires in the holes, which he 

 compared to shutting the stable-door when the steed was stolen. He stated 

 that in Philadelphia a public park had been planted with a great many 

 different kinds of exotic trees, and amongst them were some pines, which 

 were all destroyed by two of their native species, Callidium autenuatura 

 and Monohammus dentator. None of their native trees suffered, but the 

 foreign Coniferse were killed immediately. Dr. Horn also stated that it was 

 his belief that the Longicorns attack healthy trees, and that the Coniferae 

 in question had been previously noticed as the finest and healthiest young 

 trees in the park. The lime trees from Europe were also destroyed in a 

 similar manner by hosts of Saperdte. Mr. M'Lachlan repeated what he 



