Westwood (6.) wrote that he had been informed by an intelligent Jamaica cane-grower that the 

 ravages of the borer " had been greatly checked by allowing the refuse to accumulate on the ground 

 and then firing the whole plantation, the old roots subsequently throwing up more vigorous shoots." 



Comstock (10 ) gives rather full suggestions for remedies, as follows : — 



" According to our present information, the cane-borers hibernate almost exclusively in the larva 

 or "worm" state [in the United States]. During the winter they are to be found most abundantly, 

 of course, in the seed canes, but also in the discarded tops, and also to a slighter extent in the stubble. 

 We cannot hope, of course, to exterminate the insect, owing to the extreme difficulty of fighting it in 

 the stubble, but the number of larva; which hibernate in this place is so small that, supposing the others 

 killed off, the borer can be well kspt in subjection. It is the custom upon most plantations to plough 

 the tops under for fertilizers, but if the plan of burning them during the winter were universally 

 adopted, many of the borers would doubtless be killed which otherwise would help to start the next 

 summer's brood. The question of dealing with by far the larger number, which are to be found in the 

 cane stored away for seed, now remains. In such cane as is planted in the fall it is reasonable to sup- 

 pose that the borer will not be able to develop, or if it should develop that the moth will not be able to 

 force its way through the wet heavy soil above it, especially where the system of rolling after planting 

 is followed. Why should not the same reasoning apply to such seed cane as is laid down in furrows 

 at the time of harvesting ? It would depend, of course, upon the amount of earth with which it could 

 be covered without danger from mildew and decay. After a bad worm year all seed cane should be 

 laid down in this way, and not left openly in flat " mat," which allows of a safe hibernation and an easy 

 natural escape of the moth. The cane should be covered as deeply as is safe in order to more effec- 

 tually stop the egress of the moth, and in planting the ensuing spring; only so much should be uncovered 

 at a time as is necessary for immediate use. In harvesting in the fall also such canes as are worst in- 

 fested should be thrown aside with the tops, to be burned during the winter. Moreover, inasmuch as 

 certain parts of a plantation are always d imaged more severely than others, the seed to be kept through 

 the winter should be selected from other localities and from amongst the v.-ry best and least damaged 

 cane. We cannot insist too strongly upon the necessity of following this latter course. If these sug- 

 gestions are acted upon, we think that the damage from the borer will be very greatly lessened." 



Howard (21.) referring to the damage done by the borer to maize, remarks : — " Where, however, 

 the old stalks are systematically removed from the field and burned after harvest or during winter, or 

 where a constant rotation of crops is practised, the corn stalk-borer will never become a serious pest, 

 and the Virginia and South Carolina farmers have it in their hands to check it at any tinu>by pursuing 

 these methods." 



Riley and Howard (19.) suggest as an experiment spraying the plants with Paris green at the 

 time that the eggs are laid, but it seems very doubtful whether this method would succeed, if at all, 

 sufficiently to be worth trying on a large scale. The trouble and expense would be considerable, and very 

 thorough spraying would be needed to have any satisfactory results. It does not indeed appear that 

 this method is advised for general use, but the recommendations are as folio .vs : — " We know, how- 

 ever, that there are several generations in the course of the summer, probably at least half-a-dozen ; 

 »nd, as in the case of all many- brooded insects, there will be a constant overlapping of broods, so that 

 the moths will be flying most of the summer. This means an almost continuous egg laying, and your 

 only absolute protection, where the moths are abundant and breeding, will be to spray with Paris green 

 at frequent intervals. In an experiment of this kind you will not mind taking considerable trouble, 

 and I would therefore advise you to purchase a " Little Climax" pump with outfit from Nixon Nozzle 

 and Machine Company, of Dayton, Ohio, and to spray with Paris green in the proportion of one-quar- 

 ter of a pound to 40 gallons of water. I would spray at intervals of from two to three weeks, and 

 oftener when heavy rains intervene." 



Mr. G. W. Smith (24.) in his excellent article, writes : — " As a remedy I would suggest the ad- 

 visability of cutting the ripe canes as quickly as possible. Take up every piece of rotten cane, carry 

 them out of the field and pass them through the mill ; this will destroy any grubs that may chance to 

 be in them. Burn all the megass, for a couple of seasons at least, as the method of stacking megass 

 for future use may assist in keeping up the disease ; on no account leave pieces of rotten cane lying 

 around the estate, these only form breeding ground tor fresh hordes of insect-pests. The thrash and 

 stumps should then be collected, carted away from the field, and burnt. The reason of this is, that in 

 some places it has been found that there are ants in the ground which prey on the borer and help to 

 keep it in check. Burning on the field itself would thus destroy them also. 



Plants should then be selected from the strongest unaffected canes procurable, and not at random, 

 as is often the case ; these be may immersed in water at a temperature of 130 degrees for 48 hours, to 

 which may be added as an additional precaution, a one per cent, solution of Carbolic Acid or Sulphate 

 of Ammonia. The kerosine emulsion may also be useful. It is just possible that at some stage or other 

 these insects may exist in the soil, and it is clear that if we could reach tbem with a fertilizer, which 

 is at the same time an insecticide, we may do a good deal towards eradicating them. In Queensland 

 there is a German fertilizer used in canefields infected with an insect pest that emerges from the around 

 and cuts off the stalks of the plants. This fertilizer is called " Kainit," and farmers there who have 

 used it, say they enjoy an immunity from the pest. The cost is about £3 per ton, and it is reckoned 

 that about 3001bs. is enough for an acre. This may be ploughed in as a fertilizer and at any rate seems 

 worth a trtal. 



In conclusion, I may remark that one feature of the disease deserves careful attention. It is this 

 In no case have I observed plants of the Transparent, Ribbon, or Caledonia Queen canes affected by the 

 insect, either moth or beetle, and that, too, even when growing side by side with badly dis.ased Bourbon 

 canes. This would seem to point to the fact that the Bourbon variety is either a weak one, or has be- 

 come degenerate from long cultivation in the West Indies, in the same localities 



