No. 3.] Original Communications. 91 



knowing what is at present known on the subject of these pests, 

 the sugarcane cultivator will be in a position to minimise their 

 attacks. 



In paragraph 4 of the Bengal Government Resolution appointing 

 the Sugarcane Committee, it is stated that — 



" It may be profitable to the i.idigo planter of North Behar to take up the 

 cultivation of sugarcane and the manufacture of sugar, either by growing cane as 

 a rotation in alternate years and keeping up the growth and manufacture of 

 indigo or . . . . . . . " 



From the point of view of minimising the danger from insect 

 attacks, this suggestion is a most happy one. I have pointed out 

 that the Chilo borer, and not improbably the Xyleborus and others as 

 well, spend the cold weather in the refuse cane and tops, and that 

 these should accordingly be carefully removed and burnt. However 

 carefully this may be done grubs, etc., in varying proportion, will be 

 sure to escape, and thus be ready to start and spread the attack in 

 the following season. If there is no crop the succeeding season these 

 grubs will perish, and thus the rotation of crops would prove the 

 best of all remedies against insect pests. 



To sum up. In order to lessen the chance of insect attacks on a 

 sugarcane crop, it is important to bear in mind the following : — 



(1) The greatest care should be taken in choosing the seed 



cane. The intending cultivator should find out exactly 

 where it comes from and whether the crop from which it 

 was taken suffered from any bad insect attacks in the 

 previous year 



(2) It will probably be found that the local canes are, safer to 



plant out than imported better qualities, The latter may 

 give a better return, but in their new environment will 

 be likely to suffer much more severely from insect 

 attacks. 



(3) After cutting the crop, every care should be taken to clear 



off the ground and burn all refuse cane, which, if insect 

 pests are about, will certainly harbour their eggs, grubs 

 or other stages of their metamorphosis. 



NOTE. — It may be remarked that a weevil {Coleoptera) by name Sphenophorus 

 sacchari does great damage to sugarcane in the West Indies. It will not unlikely 

 prove that the Curculionid family (weevils) of beetles contains species injurious to 

 our Indian cane. This point further investigation on the subject will enable us 

 to settle 



