8 



these operations, having in view the con- 

 tinued existence and reproductive in- 

 crease of the Wild Cochineal, will need 

 to be carried out under conditions that 

 will prevent the access of this probable 

 natural enemy. To this end a small en- 

 closure covered with scrim (hessian) 

 should be erected to cover growing plants 

 that are being used in these experiments, 

 access to its interior being gained by a 

 properly secured door. This enclosure 

 might also aid in over-wintering the in- 

 sect before its transmission to localities 

 where it is to be employed. 



(e) Since several methods of transmitting 

 the Coccus-infested Prickly-pear have 

 been followed, these remarks presuppose 

 that many individual insects will arrive 

 in a living condition. Should any in- 

 fested pear arrive in a condition suitable 

 for planting, such pieces should be 

 directly grown and their condition 

 noted. 



(/) It is possible that only a limited number 

 of insects exhibiting vitality may be re- 

 ceived. Having in view the fact that the 

 Cochineal Industry in Java was formerly 

 based on the receipt at Batavia of two 

 living individiials only, it will be recog- 

 nised that even from a comparatively 

 small beginning much may be accom- 

 plished, should the entomologist realise 



the importance of the undertaking and 

 bring to bear on the work ordinary, skill 

 and be afforded the fullest opportunity 

 for exercising it. 



Insects apparently dead may still 

 give birth to living young, since the act 

 of reproduction is usually followed by 

 the death of the parent insect. 



(g) However, anticipating the possible 

 failure of the first experiments in trans- 

 mission; provision is being made foif''con- 

 tinuous supplies of this Wild Coehineal 

 Insect of Ceylon (Coccus indicus) until 

 it shall become established in Queens- 

 land. 

 A report of the conditions of the contents of 

 the several packages forming this first consign- 

 ment should on its arrival be prepared and early 

 placed at our disposal. 



One of the packages (marked II.-4) contains 

 a particular Opuntia (Nopalea cochinelifera) in- 

 fested by a second Wild Cochineal Insect.* This 

 Opuntia is the Tree Prickly-pear growing at 

 large at Emerald and elsewhere. It is sug- 

 gested that endeavour be made to maintain its 

 development on any cuttings sent which arrive 

 in a condition suitable for planting. Cceteris 

 paribus, similar action to be taken with regard to 

 this insect as prescribed for the foregoing one. 



* Coccus confusus capensis, the species occurring 

 naturalised in Cape Colony. 



II. INDIA. 



The itinerary followed by the Commission 

 during its stay in India was practically that 

 outlined for it by Mr. I. H. Burkill, M.A., now 

 Director of the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, but 

 formerly Economic Botanist to the Botanical 

 Survey of India. A few modifications were 

 made at the suggestion of certain officers inter- 

 viewed during the journey in India. 



Travelling by rail from Tuticorin, in the 

 south of the Pensinsula, to Madras, Prickly -pear 

 ■\ as noticed more or less frequently, occasionally 

 on waste areas, but usually growing as hedges. 

 The species occurring in the more southerly 

 portion of the railway route was recognised as 

 Opuntia (Mllenii, which, as already referred to 

 in the Ceylon report, is found in the northern 

 part of the island as well as at a few other 

 isolated places such as Anuradhapura and at 

 Kollupitiya, near Colombo. As Madras was 

 approached it was noticed that the main pear 

 was 0. nigricans,* a species occurring near 

 Sydney, New South Wales, and at Telarbon, in 

 South-western Queensland. 



Both of these cacti, as well as Nopalea 

 cochinelifera, may be found growing as hedges 

 and also in a naturalised state in the city of 

 Madras and the surrounding district. 



In order to render possible, within a reason- 

 able time, the covering of the large area 

 suggested by Mr. Burkill, it was deemed 

 necessary for the members of the Commission to 

 separate at Madras— one travelling through 



* 0. elatior, Burkill. 



northern and north-western India, the other 

 proceeding through southern and south-western 

 India as well as revisiting Ceylon in order to 

 inspect the wild cochineal station established by 

 the Commission with the consent and assistance 

 of the Director of Agriculture, at the Govern- 

 ment Experiment Gardens, Henaratgoda. 



A. Itinerary and Species met with in 

 Northern India. 



Madras to Calcutta. — Whilst travelling 

 northwards from Madras towards Calcutta, 

 masses of Prickly-pear were noticed more or less 

 commonly. The main species first seen was 

 Opuntia dillenii, extending from Madras to near 

 Bezwada, where it became more or less replaced 

 by 0. nigricans. The zone of the latter extended 

 as far north as Vizianagram and Vizagapatam, 

 and even further. Near Naupada 0.. diUenii 

 again became predominant. In the neighbour- 

 hood of Cuttack and Puri (Jugganath) 0. 

 nigricans was plentiful. Sometimes the infesta- 

 tion was moderately dense — a great deal more 

 dense than was seen in any portion of Northern 

 India, except perhaps in a few small areas- such 

 as at Jaipur and near Delhi. This occurred only 

 on poor waste land, since in arable country 

 Prickly-pears have had very little chance of 

 surviving on account of the large agricultural 

 population to be supported. In nearly all cases 

 the pear was used for making hedges. On the 

 outskirts of Indian villages it is no uncommon 

 sight to see cacti which have been allowed to 

 run wild, but they are not permitted to invade 

 the neighbouring fields to any extent. 



