September 2, 1889.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
i59 
the mechanical condition of the soil, rendering it more 
porous and easily permeable to the surface roats, up- 
on the development of which the success of the crop 
so much depends. Then, again, something may be due 
to an increased temperature of the surface soil, en- 
gendered by the decomposition of so large an amount 
of organic matter within it; whilst the carbonic acid 
evolved in the decomposition will, with the aid of 
moisture, serve to render the mineral resources of the 
soil more soluble. 
The Potato is, indeed largely a kitchen and market 
garden crop, as well as a farm crop ; and for the produc- 
tion of garden vegetables generally very much larger quan- 
tities of farm or stable manure are applied, beyond 
what is required as a mere supply of constituents to 
the crops, the process being to a great extent one of 
forcing, and a necessary result is a great accumulation 
of unexhausted residue within the soil. — Gardeners' 
Chronicle. 
INSECT PESTS OF THE TEA PLANT. 
Since tea has now become the principal staple in 
Ceylon, I have thought that some account of the insects 
affecting this product may be of interest to Ceylon 
Planters. I have for several years been observing 
the habits of the insect, friends and foes of the tea 
plant, and I now propose to give a series of articles 
describing the life-history and habits of the different 
species that have come under my observation, (to be 
illustrated if possible with simple diagrams and 
sketches.) These notes will not be arranged in any 
definite order, and will be supplemented from time 
to time by any further information, I am able to obtain. 
The list will contain any insect that derives its living 
from the tea plant, whether its attacks are extensive 
enough to materially affect the growth of the plant 
or not ; but at the same time such fact will be duly 
noted. 
I shall be very grateful to any one who will assist 
me with specimens, observations, or statistics relating to 
this subject. This is the more desirable as different 
districts are frequented by different species. 
Eumtta cramerii. 
a. Larva 
l>. Perfect insect, male 
c. Perfect insect, female 
No. I. The Fac4got-worm, Eumeta cramerii, 
Before the introduction of tea this insect was com- 
monly found on coffee, where it did little or n 
damage. At present, if it would confine itself to 
well-established trees, it would be of little conse- 
quence. But the larva (fit/, a) has a habit of billeting 
itself upon some young plant, and not only devours 
the leaves but cuts off the woody shoots for building 
purposes. 
A glance at the figure will show that the cater- 
pillar is enveloped in a case composed chiefly of twigs 
arranged side by side around its body, forming a faggot- 
ke bundle which has given to allied species in other 
countries such names as the ' lictor ' — ' faggot-worni ' 
—and 'basket worm.' The twigs are held together by 
a firm and tough lining of silk. This case is a very 
effective protection to the soft body of the grub. The 
head and front part of the body, which alone are ex- 
tended while the animal is travelling or feeding, are 
strengthened by horny plates. The hinder part of 
the body is soft and fleshy and always remains hidden 
within the case ; the legs on this part are undeveloped, 
being represented in a very rudimentary condition as 
small hooks, serving to fix the insect into its case. 
The silk lining of the case is continued for a short way 
in front as a soft flexible tube to enable the larva to 
move its head freely in search of food ; and when the 
animal retreats, inside, this part is drawn down after it 
to close the opening. 
When the young larva is first hatched f rom the egg it 
is of course unprovided with any covering for its body. 
It crawls about on its front legs, with the hinder parts 
elevated, looking for building material. It commences 
modestly with small fragments of leaves or atoms of 
bark, and gradually enlarges and extends its habitation 
as it grows : the twigs are added one by one as the 
animal finds itself strong enough to bear their extra 
weight. Like all other caterpillars, this species is sub- 
ject to periodical moults ; these it undergoes within its 
case, having first anchored it to a leaf or branch of the 
tree. On the last of these occasions, when it is about to 
change into a chrysalis, it fastens the upper end of its 
case very firmly to the support and securely closes the 
opening ; it then turns round so that its head rests near 
the opposite and lower end which is still open, and in this 
position becomes transformed into a chrysalis. 
After some weeks' time the final change occurs, when 
the male emerges as a moth (fig. b) with a very hairy 
body and delicately feathered antennas. Its wings are 
dull brown with darker veinings on the front pair. 
The female is not so fortunate. Her last stage (fig, o.) 
is a distinct retrogression. She has neither eyes, antennas 
wings nor legs; nor even a mouth, for in this stage she' 
takes no nourishment : she is in fact little else but a 
naishapen bag of eggs. The head and front part are 
protected by reddish horny plates, while the rest of the 
body is of a pale cream colour with the exception of two 
brownish downy patches Dear the end. This extraordi- 
nary creature remains for the rest of her life hidden 
within her case. Here the eggs also remain until 
they are hatched, which takes place after the 
death of the parent, and in some species tbe young 
are said to make their first meal off her shrivelled bodv. 
The female being a larger and heavier insect than 
the male, inhabits a larger faggot of sticks. One of 
these in my collection measures two and three-quarter 
inches in length, with a circumference of nearly two 
inches, and bears sixteen pieces of twigs, which represent 
about forty inches of tea stem — rather a heavy tax 
upon a young plant. 
Fortunately they are not known to occur in any 
great numbers. Should it be found neccessary to 
destroy them, hand picking would be the only remedy. 
They are so well protected they fear few naturai 
enemies, but, in common with every other caterpillar 
they are doubtless subject to the attacks of internal 
parasites. 
The moth— the male insect— is rarely seen, and the 
large female cases are much more common than 
those of the male: it is therefore probable that, as 
in several allied species, the young are produced for 
several generations by parthenogenesis. 
The natives have a quaint legend concerning these 
insects. _ The story goes, that in a previous life they 
existed' in a human form, when amongst other crimes 
they made a regular trade of stealing firewood: at 
