223 



ridge. Formerly the stubbles were dug with grubbing hoes down to^ 

 the mother cane and left shaking in the breeze. Happily this custom 

 has very generally disappeared and is now supplanted by the use of an 

 implement called the stubble digger, which is run several times over 

 the stubbles loosening and pulverising the earth, admitting air and 

 heat and causing early germination in the buds. The stubble digger, 

 when properly operated, is a most effective and economical implement. 

 The rapidity with which it may be operated, covering ten to fourteen 

 acres per day, coupled with the good work performed, makes the cost 

 of digging stubbles very small compared with the old grubbing hoe 

 method. Improperly handled, especially upon very old stubblea, injury 

 may result from its use. Upon old ratoons on the station, it would 

 occasionally pull up a stubble in spite of our best efforts, to prevent, 

 thus injuring a future stand. However, the amount so injured 

 especially upon first year stubble, is small and insignificant beside the 

 great saving of cost in the work performed. (*) 



(4.) The methods of dealing with the stubble, or ratoon canes, will naturally 

 differ in a country like Louisiana which has a definite winter, from the methods 

 followed in the tropics where growth in continuous and efforts are made to secure 

 an early and rapid spring of ratoons. — F.W. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES. 



By J. E. DuERDEN, Curator of the Museum of the Institute of Jamaica. 



The Army Worm in St. Ann. 



The following communication was received by the Director of Public 

 Gardens : - 



Richmond Estate, 



Laughlands, P.O. 

 8th August, 1898. 



By to-day's post I send you 4 specimens of caterpillars that are destroying canes 

 on this estate. You some time ago advised green dressing of " Cow P«as." I 

 sent to America for two bushels which I planted in two fields of young plant canes. 

 They bore abundantly, but to-day I noticed in one field in which the peas are not 

 yet reaped, that about three acres of canes were completely eaten by caterpillars 

 and there are hundreds of the kind sent on the canes. I fear I have introduced, 

 with the peas, another insect pest. Can you advise me what to do ? Please let 

 Mr. Duerden see them. Unless stopped at once they will destroy the whole piece, 

 as they evidently are increasing rapidly. The peas are not touched. I have been 

 15 years a planter and have never seen canes atracked in this way. 



I have put on children to pick them off and destroy them and I am having the 

 piece well cleaned, and the peas reaped. I shall be grateful for any advice you 

 can give me. 



Yours faithfully, 

 Feed. L. Clark. 



Mr. Fawcett accordingly forwarded Mr. Clark's letter along with the 

 specimens of caterpillars to the Museum. Upon examination the latter 

 proved themselves to be closely allied to, if not absolutely identical 



