146 ST. HELENA 



multiplied in their new home so quickly that Jamestown 

 was almost ruined — these, spreading to the country at- 

 tacked fruit and fir trees, together with all soft wood trees, 

 to such an extent, that it was considered necessary to burn 

 the trees wherever they were found. Not content with 

 denuding the forests and lessening the supply of fruit these 

 active workers entered the houses, continuing their work 

 until a great number had to be rebuilt. This was generally 

 done witli teak-wood and with iron, and as the destruction 

 by burning was well carried out the ants are now con- 

 siderably fewer than formerly. 



The fruit-trees have for many years been ravaged by 

 insects; the peach was the first attacked, and since then al- 

 most every kind of fruit has suffered ; so that it has been 

 considered best to destroy the greater number, especially 

 of peach, guava, pear and orange-trees. The only real cure 

 would be to burn, as was done several years since in Tas- 

 mania, where, owing to the maggots in the peaches, an or- 

 dinance was promulgated enforcmg the total destruction by 

 lire of all peach-trees in the colony. For three years not a 

 peach was grown, but in the fourth year the result made 

 itself apparent ; the new peaches were larger, of excellent 

 flavour and free from pest. The following letters and notes 

 are added as being of interest to fruit-growers : — 



Downing Street, 



IS/ June, 1896. 

 Sir, — I have the honour to inform you that your despatch No. 23, 

 of the fourth of April last, \s-ith the accompanyinK specimens of an 

 insect which had attacked the peach crop in St. Helena during the 

 past year, was referred to the Director of the Royal Gardens at 

 Kew, and I now transmit to you a copy of a letter with a report 

 by Mr. W. F. H. Blandford, F.RS., which we have received in 

 reply. 



2. I shall be interested to learn what measures are taken to lessen 

 the ravages of tliis pest. 



I have the honour to be, sir, 



Your most obedient servant, 



J. Chamberlain. 

 The OflScer Administering the Government of St. Helena. 



Royal Gardens, Kew, 



215/ May, 1896. 



Sir, — I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your 

 letter of the 30th ultimo (9000/96), forwarding a copy of the dcs- 



