leaves. The insects feeding on the green cellula por- 

 tions of leaves, the white fibrous blades remain exposed 

 which give a withered appearance to whole fields. But the 

 plants being quite young at the time, they recover their 

 vitality and the injury done is not so great as it appears at 

 first. The full development of the beetles from eggs takes 

 place within a fortnight to three weeks. But a second gene- 

 ration is not known to succeed during the same season, and 

 it is not known how the beetles appear in such swarms and 

 disappear. Probably the large swarm which appears at the time 

 of transplanting is the second generation from stray hispas 

 which have not been noticed and which feed on the seedlings 

 and breed again on the plants after they are transplanted. But 

 a still larger third swarm not being known, it is doubtful if the 

 theory just stated is correct. Closer observation can alone 

 determine this point. Their sudden appearance and dis- 

 appearance are at present looked upon in the light of a 

 mystery. Several remedies were tried at Sibpur. Dusting 

 of ashes mixed with lime and arsenic, of soot, of turmeric 

 powder, bellowing Carbon-bisulphide and Cyanide of Potas- 

 sium vapour, spraying tobacco decoction, kerosine emulsion 

 and a solution of asafcetida and aloes, were tried in different 

 plots with no marked effect at the time of application. But 

 the beetles disappeared the next day. Another swarm how- 

 ever appeared in a few days and they were similarly treated. 

 At this second attack were noticed large numbers of tiger 

 beetles (Cincindela sexpunctata) feeding on the hispa and 

 probably they were of greater help than the insecticidal 

 applications. The prevention of the pest was successfully- 

 carried out at the same time by dipping each buncb of seed- 

 lings immediately before transplanting in a solution of asafce- 

 tida. Probably the stink kept the insects off, though some of 

 the plots already attacked were also treated with asafcetida 

 solution with no immediate result. Smoking with Sulphur 

 and Chlorine fumes has been also recommended. 



