283 



as an experiment of "while ants" (Termites). These experiments 

 were necessarily limited by reason of the extraordinary difficulty 

 in obtaining the chemical. Having been able to procure from In- 

 dia a larger supply of the Bisulphide, I have considerably extended 

 these experiments, with the result that I am still more fully con- 

 vinced of the great value of this treatment. A definite area of the 

 Gardens was marked out for experiment, and every ant's nest 

 within this area was treated, apparently with complete success. 

 Bisulphide of Carbon gives off a very poisonous gas, which, being 

 heavier than air, sinks to the bottom of the cavities and penetrates 

 the subterranean galleries of the termites killing every insect with 

 which it comes in contact. All that is necessary is to pour a small 

 quantity of the liquid into the main shafts of the nests and close 

 the apertures with earth. The inhabitants of the nest are killed in 

 situ, and the mounds may be levelled and otherwise left untouched. 

 The difficulty in obtaining the chemical is due to its highly inflam- 

 mable nature, and results in the imported article being very costly. 

 But, given a sufficient demand, it could, be manufactured locally, as 

 it now is in India, and sold at a rate which would allow of its being 

 extensively employed. — Ceylon Administration Report, rgo2. 



[Carbon bisulphide has long been known and largely used for 

 dealing with underground pests, and is one of the " secrets " used 

 by game-keepers at home for making rabbits leave their burrows 

 and lie out. It has not been recommended in the Bulletin pre- 

 viously for termites on account of its being almost impossible to get 

 it in sufficient quantity in the Straits and from its very dangerous 

 nature. From the recklessness of the coolies in handling dan- 

 gerously inflammable substances, it is hardly safe to allow them the 

 use of it.] 



COTTON LEAP-ROLLER. 



The cotton leaf-rolling caterpillar which has been so troublesome 

 in the Egyptian cotton grown in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, 

 and has been described in Bulletin III, p. 1 6 1 , has been identified 

 by Mr. C. O. WaterhoUSE of the British Museum as Syllapta 

 derogata, Fabr, one of the Pyralida; and an insect of very wide 

 distribution. — Editor. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



Notices to Subscribers. 



I. For the information of subscribers and others who have been 

 unable to complete their series of the Agricultural Bulletin of the 

 Straits and Federated Malay States notice is here given that Nos, 

 \\ 7> 8, 9, of the Old Series (1891-1900) and Nos. I, 8, 9, 10, of the 

 New Series Vol. 1 (1901-1902), the first issues of which have long 

 been exhausted, are now being reprinted, with plates, and will 

 shortly be ready. 



