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each sack was carefully picked over, separating for destruction 
all those showing traces of disease and the balance was sub- 
merged for an hour in a 1/2 per cent, solution of Formalin, in 
order to disinfect them from clinging disease spores. In both 
cases consignees paid for labor and chemicals. 
Rusty Peas. — Some of the green peas reaching this market 
were found to be heavily infested with a rusty spot, probably 
"pea-spot" (Ascochyta pise, Libert). Peas so infested were de- 
stroyed. 
ROUTINE AND OTHER WORK. 
W. Australian Entomologist. — Mr. Geo. Compere, Entomolo- 
gist of the West Australian Department of Agriculture, was a 
thru passenger from the Orient on the 15th, and much of the day 
was spent with him. He left here another colony of the Oriental 
red-scale parasite (Comperiella bifaseiata, How.), males and 
females of which were bred out the same day and released on a 
citrus tree in the Government Nursery grounds infested with this 
scale. Material was also collected of several of our common 
parasites of white-fly and scale bugs which Mr. Compere took 
along for releasing in California. He had much to tell of having 
successfully introduced fruit-fly parasites into West Australia 
from India and left specimens of these for identification by Dr. 
Perkins. As a result of the cordial relations between Mr. Com- 
pere and this office we hope to be able to secure some of those 
parasites as soon as they show their efficiency against melon fly. 
Meantime results in West Australia will be watched carefully. 
Useful Insect Distribution. — Aside from the big collection of 
various parasites sent to California with Mr. Compere, there were 
distributed in the Territory 18 colonies of useful insects during 
the month, to supply some of which it took considerable time to 
collect. 
Pineapple Fumigation. — Toward the end of the month there 
were numerous inquiries relative to fumigation of fresh pine- 
apples for the coast. Many shippers found themselves wholly 
unprepared, especially with air-tight inclosures, but one day be- 
fore sailing. The inspector was called upon and he granted per- 
mission to use one of the Board's fumigation chambers for the 
purpose, and no pineapples left this port without fumigation. 
The fumigation formula in universal application prescribes the 
use of 98 per cent, guaranteed Potassium Cyanide. The grade 
in the local market was found to be inferior and ineffective 
against the pineapple mealy bug in several instances when used 
at the usual rate. 
Experiments. — Tests were therefore undertaken to ascertain 
(1) whether the inferiority of the cyanide was responsible for 
the inefficiency ; (2) whether the 98 per cent. C. P., a few pounds 
of which were secured, in the usual dose would kill the bugs ; and 
