52 METHODS OF PREVENTION AND REMEDIES. 



ment of mine to show how important it is we should 

 take every precaution to guard ourselves against such 

 introductions, by careful investigation and treatment 

 of imported plants immediately on arrival in this 

 country. Seeing that we have no recognised system 

 of dealing with wholesale consignments of infested 

 plants, it may be well to consider how such work is 

 carried out in other countries. In his admirable work 

 on the Coccidae of Ceylon, Mr. E. E. Green enters 

 fully into the subject, describing the treatment as 

 adopted by himself, from information supplied by Mr. 

 C. P. Lounsbury, Official Entomologist at Cape Town. 

 As I do not possess Mr. Lounsbury 's official work, I 

 have taken the liberty of extracting from Mr. Green, 

 who says, "For wholesale Fumigation of plants and 

 fruits there is nothing to equal hydrocyanic acid gas, 

 generated by mixing cyanide of potassium, water, and 

 sulphuric acid in certain proportions. This treatment 

 is cheap and effectual. The gas is of the most deadly 

 nature, and will penetrate every crack and crevice, and 

 do its work thoroughly. 'The application is quite 

 simple. All that is required is a close-fitting chamber, 

 provided Avith a flue for the escape of the gas after the 

 operation. The more airtight the chamber the more 

 complete will be the work. It should be fitted with 

 racks to receive moveable trays, upon which fruit may 

 be spread. The objects to be fumigated are placed 

 into position ; the chemicals are mixed in a leaden or 

 earthenware pan and placed on the floor, the door shut, 

 and the room kept closed for from half to three quar- 

 ters of an hour. The flue is then opened, and after a 

 sufficient time (about half an hour) has been allowed 

 for ventilation the door is unlocked, and the plants, etc., 

 removed. It is not advisable to take the subjected 

 plants directly into the open air if the sun is shining. 

 They should be kept for a few hours under shade, 

 which will greatly lessen any danger of damage. 



" Mr. C. P. Lounsbury, Official Entomologist at Cape 

 Town, has kindly supplied me with full particulars of 



