807 



Plant Sanitation. 



Mr. Cbatb seconded, saying, as he did so, that he left that matter of pay- 

 ment to individual members. 



Several members expressed themselves of opinion that the agents would 

 not agree with the proposal to tabulate. 



The .Chairman : The records are not for publication. It is only a matter 

 for our own private knowledge. 



Mr. Sidgewick : It goes all the way round. Everybody will eventually 

 get to know, and the agents are sure to object. 



Mr. Eliot considered that as much knowledge on the subject as could be 

 got was essential. 



Mr. Green : The records would be a tremendous help. They need not be 

 for publication, but merely for the edification of the Association in making its 

 records and going about its concerted action. 



The Chairman : Well, I think we had better leave that phrase out, and 

 merely advise those who can send in records to do so. I want the resolution to 

 be carried unanimously. 



Mr. Green : Remember that the more records you get the hetter. 



The resolution was carried after the phrase with regard to records had 

 been deleted. 



Mr. Eliot said : As far as Dikoya is concerned Ave are entirely in sympathy 

 with you. The matter has been put into the hands of a Pest Committee, and they 

 will report, and their recommendations will be acted upon by the local P.A. I have 

 no doubt their recommendations will be the same as yours— to collect the egg masses 

 It seems to be the only thing possible. (Hear, hear.) 



The Chairman ; I think that will help us considerably. The boundaries of 

 the districts are so near that it would be little use us taking any action without the 

 co-operation of Dikoya. (Hear, hear.) 



Mr. De Mowbray asked if it would not be a good thing if, as well as egg 

 masses being collected, prunings were burnt. 



Mr Green : I am strongly in favour of that, but I would not insist upon it. 

 It is a good thing against any pest. 



Mr. Braybrooke : Under the present system of manuring you would lose 

 a lot of manure. 



Mr. Braybrooke: I am sure a great many agents will not allow their 

 superintendents to burn prunings. 



Mr. Pole thought it was a very important and interesting point that had 

 been raised, and they ought, at least, to be united upon the matter. If anyone 

 objected to burning his prunings why should they not argue the matter and fight 

 it out to some conclusion as to whether it was good or not. By burning the prunings 

 they certainly got rid of any pest that might be lurking there, and millions of 

 caterpillars would be destroyed. The method would be very serviceable, but it 

 would be hard to bring everybody to carry it out because they knew agents 

 were sure to object. Unanimity, however, was the great point about everything 

 If one set himself against an idea it would make the money spent by the others in 

 carrying it out a dead loss. 



Mr. Green remarked that young caterpillars were not necessarily killed by 

 the leaves dying off. The mere fact of the prunings dying would not necessarily kill 

 the insect. It was surprising how retentive of life they were.— Times of Ceylon, 

 27th April. 



