POETO RICO EXPERIMENT STATION. 415 



growth or period of becoming established. It is especially trouble- 

 some in starting vegetables on sandy land. It works at night, bur- 

 rowing beneath the surface of the ground and eating the young plants 

 off just below the crown. In case of a lack of food it migrates during 

 the night, even to a considerable distance, and continues its destructive 

 work. On account of its nocturnal habits, its mode of flight, and 

 working beneath the surface, it is a most formidable pest, and no doubt 

 much patience, time, and ingenuity will be required to exterminate it. 

 Methods of extermination by means of barriers of tar, by catching 

 with traps, light, and by the use of fertilizers have already been 

 inaugurated, but it is yet too early to know what ultimate success may 

 be attained. 



Scale insects, especially the purple scale and the chaff scale, are 

 common on the orange, as are also several fungus diseases, among 

 which may be mentioned verrucosis, melanose, and sphserostilbe. In 

 the interest of the orange planters these need immediate attention, 

 which will be given as soon as the entomologist can spare the time. 



