1076 PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 



have a method of covering the bunches of the nuts by tying over them 

 the broad leaf-sheaths locally called Kottes. Scientific investigation 

 revealed the fact that the spores of the disease are spread by rainwater 

 and kotte-tying is efficacious against it. *In Gujarat, against the cater- 

 pillars which bore the tobacco stem and cause a swelling in it, the culti- 

 vators follow the method of making an incision in the swollen part 

 which in many cases cures the disease and enables the plants to grow 

 normally, the plants remaining stunted if not cured. The entomologist 

 cannot yet suggest a better method. In the case of the plant 

 (Orobanche) parasitic on roots of tobacco in Bihar, scientific investiga- 

 tion recommended the stoppage of the ratoon crop. In spite of the 

 root parasites the cultivators make a profit out of the ratoon crop and 

 therefore they are not prepared to give it up. But they have a method 

 of evading the parasites by not growing tobacco for consecutive years 

 in the same place. In extreme cases cultivation of particular crops, 

 which they have not been able to protect, has been given up. The 

 writer knows of a locality in the Raniganj Subdivision of Bengal where 

 no cms paddy is cultivated, although it grows well there, as it caimot 

 be protected against the rice bug, Leptocorisa varicornis. 



The agricultural practices followed by the cultivators are usually 

 suited to the local conditions. Although with regard to many pests 

 we are not in a position to suggest really efficacious measures, whatever 

 recommendations to deal with an insect are made, they must take into 

 account the local conditions and the current agricultural j^ractices or 

 they become not only impracticable and useless but make the cultivators 

 lose confidence in the entomologist. What would one think of drowning 

 rice plants in order to kill cateri^illars of Chapra mathias feeding on 

 their leaves by raising a high mound all round the field and filling 

 it with water ? Ridiculous is too mild an adjective for this recommen- 

 dation. ' Yet it has been made by an entomologist who probably never 

 saw the conditions under which rice is cultivated. It also illustrates 

 the fault of making recommendations on the strength of general impres- 

 sions and imperfect study, which are likely to magnify small things 

 beyond proportion. The Chapra mathias caterpillars are a very minor 

 pest, hardly requiring any treatment in most cases. While in the case 

 of most of the injurious insects we have not yet been able to find out 

 practical methods of prevention of control, in the case of some of the 

 pests at least, simple measures, quite within the means of the cultivators, 

 are efiicient. For instance, removal and destruction of eggclusters or 

 congregated young caterpillars of Diacrisia on jute or of the white 

 butterfly (P. hrassicce) on cabbage will check their increase. The Red 

 Cotton Bug may be shaken off into a pan of kerosinized water. Timely 



