No. 3.] Indigo. 155 



the moths from laying their eggs on the young plant. How would 

 steeping indigo seed in a solution of carbolic acid stop the moths from 

 laying their eggs in the young plant? Steeping sugarcane before 

 planting in the above-named solution certainly keeps the borer moth 

 from attacking the young plant. — (Sealy.) 



The answer given by the planters to my questions do not shed 

 much light on the question. While many planters hold that " The 

 Indigo Caterpillar " is the greatest enemy they have to contend 

 against, Mr, Wilson appears to think that the damage done is incon- 

 siderable, except, of course, the direct loss in the cost of fresh culti- 

 vation and resowing. Practically the planters have no remedy for 

 the caterpillar to suggest. Some of them have had a heavy log of 

 wood called a u hanger " dragged over the young indigo when badly 

 attacked by caterpillars in the hope that they would be crushed, but 

 as the soil is light and friable the result is that but few caterpillars 

 are crushed, the bulk of them being simply forced into the soft earth 

 and receive no injury. The only effectual remedy appears to me to 

 be to poison them. To do this efficient sprayers must be provided 

 and in considerable numbers in large concerns where a large area is 

 under indigo. As the caterpillars appear to show themselves almost 

 simultaneously and do all the damage in two or three days, many 

 and large sprayers will be required to get over all the ground in time 

 to save the indigo. Constant watchfulness is absolutely necessary, 

 as directly caterpillars show themselves they must be dealt with. 

 In a very few days it will be too late to apply the remedy. The best 

 poisons to be used will probably prove to be Paris Green or London 

 Purple, which are both arsenical poisons. The strength of these 

 compounds must be determined by experiment. There is not the 

 smallest doubt in my mind that if either of these poisons be applied 

 properly at the right time that the crop will be saved. " The spray- 

 ing of plants " by E. G. Lodeman (Macrnillan & Co., Limited, 

 London, 1899) ]S the latest work I have seen on the subject, and 

 should be carefully studied by those who wish to carry out experi- 

 ments in exterminating a The Indigo Caterpillar/' 



5. Agrotis h'com'ca, Kollar. Sub-family Trifinse. Family No etui else. 

 Sub-order Phalsense. Order Lepidoptera. 



This moth was bred in March 1897, from a batch of caterpillars 

 found on indigo and sent to the Indian Museum, Calcutta, by 

 Messrs. Finlay, Muir & Co. It has not made its appearance since 

 that date. It is thus described by Sir George F. Hampson : " Differs 

 from A. segetis, Schiff. [see page 147] in having the subbasal, 

 ante and postmedial lines of the fore wing almost or quite obsolete; 

 the sub-marginal line strongly dentate, with black streaks on it ; the 



