195 



much shade ; or by heaping up weeds, &c, round the stem of the tree. 

 In some cases grubs were found eating the roots, for which hand picking 

 and application of kainit and lime were effective; or scale-insects attacked 

 plants wantiog in vigour for which thft kerosine and soap mixture is 

 recommended.* Diseases of the bark, such as gumming, should be 

 treated with the preparation, the recipe of which is given in the Bulle- 

 tin for September, 1 887.f Against ants, bitter wood has been found 

 effectual, 1 lb. chips are steeped for 12 hours in water, then more water 

 added to make up a gillon, the whole is allowed to bail slowly for 12 

 to 24 hours ; then it is allowed to cool, and is made up to 10 gallons ; 

 10 ounces of soft soap may be added. 



In the Bulletin for December, 1895, the article on budding recom- 

 mended that the wood should be taken away from the bud. This is the 

 practice in budding in England, but it has been found by experience 

 here that the Florida method of leaving the wood with the bud of citrus 

 plants is preferable. It has also been seen that it is better to make the 

 T-shaped cut upside down. In Florida a leaf is fastened with the tying- 

 material over the bud as a protection against the sun. 



The number of citrus trees distributed by the Department has been 

 very large : — 



Sweet Orange ... 21,201 



Grape Fruit ... 16,551 



Rough Lemon ... 7,200 



Sour Orange ... 5,287 



Navel Orange ... 244 



Total 50,483 



Cocoa. 



Distribution. — The price of cocoa on the markets is now high, and 

 with the increasing consumption there is every prospect that the price 

 will remain high for at any rate a few years. It is therefore very im- 

 portant that every encouragement should be given to the industry. 

 The price of plants has been reduced to ^d. each, delivered at any rail- 

 way station or seaport, so that the poorest man can start the cultivation. 

 The plants are in bamboo pots, the roots are therefore not disturbed in 

 sending out, and the plants can be taken straight to the field, the bamboo 

 split, and the soil enclosing the roots placed at once into the hole pre- 

 pared for it. Very much depends for success on the weather when 

 planting takes place, the percentage of losses being less than 1 per cent, 

 in favourable showery weather, and perhaps as much as 50 per cent, 

 when the weather is dry. One advantage of having the plants in bam- 

 boo pots is that if the weather is not showery, they can be kept together 

 under shade, and watered until a favourable opportunity occurs. 

 About 6,000 plants have been distributed in the year, besides 400 pods 

 which ought to give 12,000 more plants. 



* Bulletin, December, 1898, page 271. 

 f Bulletin 3, page 4. 



