AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN 



OK THE 



STRAITS 



AND 



FEDERATED MALAY STATES. 



No. 2.] FEBRUARY, 1904. [Vol. Ill Part I. 



PINEAPPLE CULTIVATION. 



Plates 



Diseases and Pests of Pines. 



The worst animal pests which destroy pines in the Straits Set- 

 tlements are porcupines, musangs. and wild pigs, which are very 

 destructive in districts where there is much forest. Insect pests 

 are few and seldom very injurious. The. worst seem to be mealybugs 

 {Coccidce) which attack the young leaves. A species of Dactylopius , 

 D. longispina is mentioned by Mr. Tryon as doing damage in 

 Southern Queensland, and also in New Guinea (Queensland Ento- 

 mologist reprinted in Cape Agricultural Journal, Yol. XVIII, p. 5 49) . 

 These mealybugs attack the young leaves and base of pine and ac- 

 cording to Mr. TryON in dry weather descend below the ground 

 and do more damage there. He points out that the ants otten 

 cover the base of the pine by a loose wall of vegetable debris, 

 under which the mealybug thrives being in partial darkness. The 

 presence of ants in quantity on a tree or plant in the tropics usually 

 implies the existence of Coccidce o: Aphides of some kind, and may 

 often be taken as a warning that the plant is sick. It is only when 

 abundant that the ants take the trouble to wall in the mealybugs. 



Mr. Tryon recommends the use of sulphur and limewash, first 

 immersing the suckers in this before planting. 



Mr. C. E. Smith (Jamaica Bulletin IX, p. 165) recommends the 

 use of tobacco water — 1 pound of tobacco to two gallons of water, 

 for cleaning the suckers. In any case infected suckers should not be 

 planted, and a little reasonable care 01 the Pineapple Estates 

 should prevent any serious damage from this pest. 



The West Indian mealybug appears to belong to another species 

 D. b rev 1 pes. 



Mites. — In the Queensland Journal of Agriculture 1898, p. 462, 

 certain mites are described and tigured, one of which Tarsonemus 

 ananas is stated to make minute h )les in tin 1 pines and allow ol 

 the entrance of the Care-rot fungus in Australia. The mite itsell ap- 

 parently docs but little harm, in any Otli !f way. 



