THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST PHYTALUS SMITHI. 1G9 



€xpenditure, a considerable sum of money has also been spent by estates in 

 operations for beetle destruction, both in labour in the digging out of larvae from 

 infested fields and in the provision of extra premiums, supervision and materials 

 for the work of beetle collection. 



Throughout, the closest co-operation has been maintained with the planters 

 concerned, meetings are periodically held for the purpose of discussing plans and 

 details of the campaign with interested proprietors and managers. In this way 

 harmonious and efficient work has been secured, and many obvious administrative 

 difficulties have been successfullv avoided or overcome. 



Very recently the planting body of the Colony have decided unanimously that, in 

 view of the fact that the pest may be held to constitute a serious menace to the 

 greater part of the sugar industry of the Colony, the entire cost of control should be 

 borne by the planters ; and they have recommended to Government the imposition 

 of an export tax of two cents of a rupee per hundred kilos of sugar exported for the 

 purpose of defraying the cost of the campaign. 



The sum of money likely to be provided as the result of this measure will suffice 

 for a further extension of activities, and, given the favourable results so far achieved, 

 there is reason for hoping that within a comparatively short period the incidence of 

 the pest may become reduced to comparatively small proportions. 



It is impossible to gauge exactly what would have been the effect if these measures 

 of control had not been undertaken. It is, however, certain that the pest would 

 have extended to a very much greater extent than at present, and in badly infested 

 fields would have probably rendered cane-growing impracticable. The lower 

 sugar-growing lands of the island, which provide a suitable environment for Phytaliis, 

 probably constitute two-thirds of the total cane-growing area ; in the absence of 

 rigid control measures it is probable that by now the beetle would have become 

 endemic in the greater part of them. While therefore the exact loss which has been 

 avoided cannot be estimated, one is safe in saying that it would certainly amount 

 to several milhons of rupees. On this account the measures taken and the 

 expenditure incurred must be regarded as abundantly justified by the results. 



