IO4 



the walls of the galleries, thus poisoning the nest permanently 

 throughout. The air pump forces the gas into the smallest pas- 

 sage of the nest. 



When the land is cultivated, the heaps disappear, and the 

 insects do not seem to make any extended efforts in erecting other 

 heaps, though it often occurs that the heaps cannot be found. It 

 is necessary under these circumstances to apply something at the 

 point where the insects are doing injury. Soap placed around 

 a tree has been found to repel white ants, but great care must 

 be-taken lest the soap comes directly in contact with the roots, and 

 so might seriously injure the tree. Tobacco dust around the tree 

 covered with earth has been often recommended, but our tests are 

 not yet conclusive regarding this measure to warrant us giving 

 it our recommendation. Another favourite method is to dig a 

 small trench around a tree, or small plot of vegetation, and place 

 the arsenic mixture in the trench and cover it up. It is said 

 that this is the favourite method in Natal, and that it has given 

 good results. We have as an experiment treated many trees in 

 this way, but it is not yet complete. Great care must be taken 

 that the arsenic is not placed too closely to the roots of the tree, 

 as the soluble arsenic may injure them. It is a fact that if a 

 stream of water is allowed to run down a row of trees twice a 

 week, the ants will trouble them but little. Using water by means 

 of buckets will not answer for this purpose. The water run- 

 ning into the galleries of the nest causes the ants to go elsewhere. 



DANGERS AHEAD FOR FRUIT GROWERS AND HOW TO AVOID 



THEM. 



A- well-known South African Statesman, keenly interested in 

 the future of our fruit industry, lately stated that although he 

 could not see eye to eye with us in the attitude we took up in 

 regard to the Government control of fruit export, he always 

 looked upon us as the watch dog guarding the future of our fruit 

 industry. We will frankly say we have consistently attempted 

 to encourage the development of our industry along the lines 

 upon which we believe its permanent safety to rest, and we have 

 spared no effort to keep ourselves posted on the trend of foreign 

 and domestic markets, and the efforts the world's fruit producers 

 have, and are, making to enter and utilise same. Over and above 

 this we aim to keep a sharp eye on all efforts made by dealers 

 and speculators which will tend to weaken the position of the 

 actual producer. He is the man whose interests it appears to 

 us are paramount, and whose permanence on the land is of the 

 greatest value to the State. 



