SECTION III. — HISTORY OF THH I5I,1GHT IN TRINIDAD. 37 



distinct broods. The first in July, which was fairly numerous, the 

 second in September, very numerous, and the third in November which 

 was excessively numerous. 



In the Couva district the damage was considerable. Waterloo 

 Estate rei^orted in August that the froghopper had appeared "later than 

 usual, but more virulent than ever." In September it was "strongly in 

 evidence, but no actual blight." In October "worse than ever before on 

 this estate. Several fields blighted and complete cessation of growth." 

 In November it was worse again, but by December "The froghoppers 

 and blight had disappeared entirely." 



At Forres Park 15-20 acres were badlj- damaged, 10 acres less 

 severely damaged, and some farmers canes blighted. At Brechin Castle 

 the yield was the lowest for many years and the damage due to frog- 

 hoppers was considerable. 



At Woodford Lodge there was blight in August, September and 

 October (Urich 1913 C.p. 18). 



1912. 



In this year occurred what is perhaps the worst outbreak yet 

 experienced. Damage was severe almost over the whole area under 

 sugar, the estates in the district round Princes Town being the only ones 

 that escaped serious injury. Damage was widespread and severe on many 

 estates in the Naparimas where it had never previously been recorded. 



The dry season was very long and severe, lasting from the middle of 

 December to the middle of May, and the crops were affected by this. 



"The first two generations of the year were fairly well marked and 

 in quick succession, but as the rainfall diminished the overlapping 

 became more complicated owing to the retarded hatching of the eggs. 

 The third generation dwindled away to nothing, and by the end of 

 December froghoppers were in abeyance." (Urich 1913 C. p, 19). 



The first brood was earlj' (9-16 July according to Urich) and by mid- 

 July slight blight had appeared in the Chaguanas district. (Urich loc. cit.) 



The second brood was about the first week in September. Urich 

 (Eeport to Board of Agriculture for September) says that the adults 

 emerged in tremendous numbers from the beginning of September to 

 the 14th, when they began to decrease. 



This brood was disasti'ous in its effects. Estates throughout the 

 Naparimas report fields suddenly destroyed. In the Couva district 

 there was "complete stagration" and "disheartening ravages" at 

 Waterloo ; "very large area affected" at Ik'echin Oastle and "about 1,000 

 acres affected" at Esperanza. 



At Chaguanas on 10th September the attack was the worst yet seen 

 and 75 per cent, of the estate was damaged. 



In the Northern Section the damage was if jDossible worse and 

 Caroni reports (see Table II) 1,460 acres badly damaged. 



The third bi'ood occurred about the end of October or beginning of 

 November and appears, for some unknown reason to have been small 

 and inconspicuous. Blight was caused only in isolated areas, and 

 nearly everywhere the canes recovered after the second brood. 



In October of this year a circular was sent out to all the large- 

 estates of the Island asking for returns of the areas badly and slightly 

 infested. These are shown in Table II with similar returns for the year 

 1917 (another bad year) for comparison. 



