are brightly coloured. It is probable that all the varieties feed 0:1 Ci- 

 trus, but those generally met with on oraage trees are black, with red 

 and white, and sometimes yellow and white stripes down the back. 



But it i 8 in the larval state that these beetles are injurious to orange 

 trees, though the beetles themselves nibble the leaves, and henoe the 

 chief reason f or their being often found hanging to the leave* and bran- 

 ches. This nibbling of the leaves however, doss no real damage to the 

 trees, but may rather be looked upon as an advantage than otherwise, as 

 the beetles then come within reach of the grower, and may be picked 

 off and destroyed, which should be done on all occasions. 



On shaking the trees they will often fall to the ground, and can then 

 be picked up. But when possible they should be picked off the trees, 

 as they sometimes take flight before reaching the ground, when shaken 

 from the branches. 



The larvae of these beetles are soft, white, fleshy grubs, and are 

 found boring into the roots of the tree. Trie female beetle probibly 

 lays her eggs just beneath the surface of the soil aijacent to a ro)t,and 

 the eggs hatching, the little grubs bore into the roots. 



It is therefore advisable to keep the surroundings of the trees 

 as free as possible of weeds or rubbish of any kind that may harbour the 

 beetles, so as to prevent the eggs being deposited. 



When a tree is seen to be affected by these underground grubs, the 

 following remedies will be found useful for treating them. 



Remedies. 

 Lime Dressing. 



(1.) After clearing the tree free of weeds, stir the soil with a fork all 

 round where the roots extend, and give a dressing of lime. 



It is worthy of note in connection with lime dressing for insect pests, 

 that a soil rich in lime is considered necessary for the production of 

 superior fruit The lime tends to produce a smooth-skinnei and well 

 flavoured orange, and abundance of lime has the effect of hastening to 

 some extent the ripening of the fruit. 



Sulphate of Potash Dressing. 



(2.) Prepare the ground in the same way as for the lime dressing, 

 and give a dressing of sulphate of potash by sprinkling about two quarts 

 on the surface around each tree. This will penetrate to the roots, and 

 have a caustic action on all grubs, &c , even destroying insect eggs de- 

 posited in the ground, or in the roots of the tre 3. At the same time 

 the sulphate of potash will, of course, act as a valuable fertilising agent, 

 so that while destroying the pests, the tree will be stimulated into 

 vigorous growth. 



I would here call attention to that part of Dr Johnstone's paper on 

 u Orange Culture, picking and p icking," *where dealing with the culti- 

 vation of orange trees in Spain, he observes that as a preventive to in- 

 sect borers, a circular hole is dug round the roots of each orange tree, 

 forming a basin-shaped hollow which exposes the roots some 18 to 20 

 inches from the trunk. The paper goes on to say tint by so doing, less 

 shelter is afforded the borers who prefer to attack the roots near the 

 trunk of the tree It is also stated that this system of exposing the 

 roots proved of great value in getting rid of a gum disease that caused 

 the death of 60 per cent, of the young orange trees of that country. 



* Journal of Jamaica Agricultural'Society, December, 1901. 



