"Some Enemies of our Cane-fij:lds." 105 



venience in some distrifts both to stock and human 

 beings. 



Of domestic animals, cattle of all kinds eat the tops 

 and leaves of the cane readily. In the islands and other 

 sugar growing countries where oxen are used on the 

 estates for draught purposes, they are largely fed on the 

 tops and leaves, and the ruin created by a herd of a few 

 hundred breaking out of their pen at night and taking a 

 walk in the canepiece, is never forgotten, if once seen. 



Goats are very destru6live on an estate, but sheep as 

 a rule ignore canes when they get into a field and con- 

 fine their attentions to the weeds and grasses on the 

 banks. 



Of the inse6l pests peculiar to the cane in this and 

 other countries, borers, a term generally applied to the 

 caterpillars or grubs of a group of moths, beetles and 

 other insefts, are most destru6live. Two of the com- 

 monest of these are Sphenaphorus Sacchari and the 

 gru-gru or tacuma, a large species of which (Rhyn- 

 cophorus palmarum) , also attacks cabbage trees. Others 

 are Strategus atceus, a very large grub which produces 

 an enormous beetle, these I am told did considerable 

 damage to the cane stools at Port Morant lately. 



A small variety resembling a hardback in shape but 

 of a bright brown colour and not quite \ of an inch in 

 length has been plentiful in Barbados of late years. 

 This has been called the shot-borer (Xyleborus perfo- 

 vans) and was occupying the attention of the authorities 

 in Barbados some three years ago. I am told they have 

 been found in the seedling canes at the Botanical Gar- 

 dens. The damage is done by the grub, which, lodging 

 in the stool of the newly cut and springing cane, eats 



O 



