270 
10. Most of the larger borer holes are old and dutsnanted whereas 
the Xyleborus burrows are recent and contain living dndecte in all stages. 
As exit holes are only present in one or two canes, the Xylebori cannot 
i em in 
n 
point of time, In fact, some of their attacks have been begun since the 
canes were cut and pac 
11. Abrasions on the cortex of the cane, which may result from the 
nibbling of a caterpillar, or from injury received in trashing, lead in 
almost every case to entrance holes of the Xylebori, showing that these 
are ready to avail themselves of any assistance in the work of tunnelling 
the canes. 
2. I havecounted the entrance holes of the Xylebori on eight canes; 
` out of 98 which occur singly, or at most two to a node, 52, or more 
than half, are in the bud or just at its base. If they are all reckoned 
_ the average is less, for out of 12 holes in a node, only two or three will 
be made in the eye. The Xylebori have obviously a preference for 
boring into this weak peih m in these particular canes do not appear 
to attack the aerial root-poi 
13. The box, made of cate and rather new deal, in which the canes 
- were Ee enciende attacked by the Xylebor 
Mr. Coull is right in his account of the i injury done to the tips, and 
it is most important that this shall be taken into account in any investi- 
gations. I cannot find that special attention has been called to it 
before, but Mr. H. um Smith has observed that the eggs of the Chilo 
are laid on the g cane leaves which will be near the summit in 
older plants, and ita remains to be seen whether this attack on the 
old canes (standovers) from which these specimens have been cut. 
As they were selected to show this point I have no means of telling 
except from Mr. Coull’s statements whether it is com The period 
of 50-60 days which he gives as that between the Enooeastvo broods 
of the moth borer agrees with the statements of other writers, but some 
give it as 5-6 w eeks. As it is founded, like the rest of his statements, 
- on careful daan, it is no doubt accurate. He has not observe 
the distinction between the Chilo and Sphenophorus attacks, nor 
recorded the life-period BE RM latter. As the caterpillars of the 
Chilo hibernate in the 8 his account shows that these infested 
tops, unless carefully ues may be dangerous centres of infection. 
(Signed) W. F. H. BLANDFORD. 
RoxaL GanpEws, Kew, to COLONIAL OFFICE; 
Si- Royal Gardens, Kew, 10th October 1892. 
N continuation of my utar of the 8th August on the subject 
of borers in sugar cane in the West Indies, I am desired by Mr. 
Thiselton-Dyer to forward a copy of a letter received froin 2. James 
G. Coull, of St. Vincent, through Messrs. Porter, Goodwin, & Co. 
2. This letter was accompanied by specimens of sugar canes attacked 
ausi: research in regard to borers in sugar cane in the West India 
sland 
Mr. Blandford has furnished a detailed report on the canes (a 
copy is enclosed herewith) and he supports in the main the results 
