WHITE ANTS, CRICKETS, AND BLIGHT. QI 



Kerosene oil is very efficient. A little is put round the 

 stem, but it is expensive. The next best thing I know is 

 the earth oil (petroleum) from Burmah, and this is cheap 

 enough. It is thick, but used from a bottle it gets heated 

 by the sun and is then quite limpid. 



When white ants are found on a tree, a little with a 

 small brush is put on the part they have attacked. They 

 are also well shaken off, and a ring of oil is placed round 

 the stem. My experience is that they will not attack that 

 tree again for a longtime. I was at first fearful that both 

 it and the kerosene (the one, I believe, is only a manu- 

 facture of the other) would injure the trees, but both are 

 safe. I strongly recommend others to try it, if they doubt, 

 on a small spot only in the first instance. 



Whatever is used, or whatever is done, white ants must 

 not be left to work their will in the autumn. All the trees 

 shonld then be examined once at least, and once again, if 

 possible, the following spring. 



Blight (a serious matter, I hear, in Cachar) I know but 

 little of. I do not remember hearing anything about it 

 when I was there, now some fourteen years ago. It is rare 

 in the Chittagong district, but I have seen one or two trees 

 attacked with it. Under its influence the young leaves get 

 covered with brown spots and shrivel. It is most destruc- 

 tive to the yield of a garden. 



From one or two experiments made I believe pruning 

 off all the diseased branches, and scraping back the soil for 

 a space of 2 feet round the stem, so as almost to lay the 

 roots bare, will be found beneficial, but I do not speak with 

 certainty. 



All the Himalayan gardens are free from these three 

 pests detailed, except that occasionally a few crickets have 

 been seen. 



