357 



ducemeiit for plantations of Castilloa rubber. Three years ago on 

 the basis of facts then available I stated that I could not honestly 

 advise any planter to invest money in the cultivation of any species of 

 rubber yet tested in Jamaica. To-day in the light of further facts as 

 to the growth and rubber yield of Castilloa trees in certain soils and 

 climates I am able to modify this opinion and to state that there is 

 evidence that Castilloa rubber can be grown with some reasonable 

 security of a profitable outcome when planted in certain suitable 

 soils and the districts in Jamaica. It is satisfactory to be able to 

 report that so far as the best indications at present show the original 

 variety from Kew seems to the best yielder of rubber yet tested in 

 Jamaica."— Ed. 



SOME CAMPHOR INSECTS. 



The following insects have been noted as attacking Camphor 

 plants in the Government Experimental Gardens at Batu Tiga in 

 such abundance as to deserve the term " pest : — 



i. A beetle identified as Hypomeces near " rustica It is a 

 blackish, greyish or bronzy weevil about % of an inch long without 

 the characteristic proboscis of the weevils. The wing cases are 

 longitudinally striated or rather coarsely punctured in rows and end 

 in a blunt point behind. The thorax is narrower than the paired 

 wing cases and decreases in width towards the head. The head has 

 prominent eyes set well back on either side and is furrowed through- 

 out its length to the blunt lip covering two powerful jaws. In front 

 of the eyes are the antennae or horns which are elbowed and end 

 in a club. 



Under a microscope or even a good lens, the whole insect is 

 seen to be covered with di=c-like scales interspersed with white hairs. 

 In fresh specimens the hairs are covered with yellowish felty masses 

 which appear to be of waxy nature. This gives the beetle on the 

 trees the look of being powdered thickly with yellow. 



The legs are covered with white hairs and are divided into three 

 movable parts, the femora or thighs, the tibiae or shanks and tarsi or 

 feet, of apparently four joints. The thighs and shanks are about 

 equal in length about inch each and the last joint but one of the 

 feet is divided into two flattish discs between which is inserted the 

 last joint of the foot ending in two curved claws growing side by side. 



This insect, when disturbed, flies heavily and not very readily 

 and can easily be shaken or beaten into some receptacle and then 

 destroyed. They eat camphor and other leaves voraciously in the 

 adult stage. I have not yet traced their life history. 



