Planting in Fiji 477 



suited, but little help has been obtained from 

 them beyond the fact that the trees are now 

 worse than they used to be. As these insects 

 have increased unchecked for years, one can 

 readily accept this statement. It was thought 

 that much help might be obtained from the 

 natives, but, as is well known, the Fijians have 

 little idea of the passage and reckoning of time. 

 The oldest native inhabitants speak of this 

 disease of coco-nuts as occurring as far back 

 as they can remember, and there are several 

 native superstitions which regard it as a curse 

 for the misdoings of their ancestors in early 

 times." 



As long ago as 1877 Mr. J. Home, who, at 

 the invitation of Sir Arthur Gordon, visited 

 these islands with the object of inquiring into- 

 the botanical, agricultural and economical 

 resources of the Colony, made reference to 

 the insect in his useful little book entitled " A 

 Year in Fiji," where he says: ''The subject 

 ought to be investigated, in order that a remedy 

 may be found and applied ; and if this is done, 

 the coco-nut tree could be increased a thousand- 

 fold in the Colony." 



A period of nearly thirty years elapsed before 

 any steps were taken to carry out Mr. Home's 

 suggestion. As a consequence this moth has 

 continued its ravages, and has multiplied un- 

 checked, and the localities from which it has been 

 reported in Viti Levu show that its distribution 

 is universal throughout the island. In January,. 



