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The following further correspondence respecting more i in sugar 
canes at St. Vincent and Barbados has been addressed to Kew 
Mr. J. G. Court to ROYAL GARDENS, Kew. 
Dear Sir, St. Vincent, 7th September 1892. 
In the August number of the Kew Bulletin I notice an exceed- 
ingly good article on the cane borer in the West Indies, by Mr. 
W. F. H. Blandford. 
The disputed point of whether the Xyleborus Pee kills the cane 
or follows the moth borer (Chilo saccharalis) will, I think, be nearly 
set at rest by the knowledge we have gained this season, and by the 
specimens of canes which 1 now send on by this mail for transmission 
to you for Mr. Blandford's ormana 
The canes sent have been killed by the moth N me marks of 
which do not appear on any part of the jointed cane; but on looking 
carefully they will be found at the very top of the cane, in the = t pith 
from which spring the leaves, the body being free from the moth borer 
holes, but it will be found to be full of those of the oue puant 
at the joints, aud in the inside of the cane they will also be found, some- 
times in great numbers, the cane having the sickening smell of decom 
ition. ‘These canes were cut out of a piece of standovers, that is, 
canes that should have been cut in June or Jnly, but on account of the 
rain have been left until next month. In this piece, I suppose, 10 per 
eent. of the canes are dead, but the remaining ones are free from 
disease, and show no signs of either the moth borer or the Xyleborus 
Ld presi think that the opinion of Mr. G. W. Smith of Grenada, 
and also that of Mr. Herbert H. Smith, is correct, that the cane is 
attacked by the moth borer, and when bs hen is h of the cane has been 
sion. is has s escaped attention peice sinter we base always looked 
can 
out, ihe cane dies, and is then taken possession of by the Xyleboru. us 
perforans. In canes on the leeward side of the island the cane is not 
so hard, and the moth borer enters the joints, but prefers the top even 
then, sometimes coming out after entering, and going up higher to the 
soft pith. 
I have now no hesitation in saying that attacks by the moth are at 
periods of between 50 to 60 days, and that the aper time to destroy 
them is when ihey attack the young sprouts in May, J Ps and July, 
when all plants showing signs of disease should be eut out; again 
and December; this, with the burning off of the cane pieces "n are 
affected after cutting, will, I ned sure, Ü taret. carried out, soon rid 
us of this insect pest. The first ean be done with but little muse to 
the next crop, but ¿if not done ab later, pes is every probability that 
the number of diseased canes will be largely i nereased' at each period o 
50 to 60 days afterwards. 
Hoping that the vecopatuell now sent may be of use in elucidating ` 
some of the habits ot these bore 
&c. 
md (Signed) James G. Court, 
