3o8 
Supplement to the “ Tropical Agriculturist I 
[October i, 1890, 
LIFE HLSTOEIES OF INSECTS INJURIOUS 
TO VEGETATION IN CEYLON. VII, 
Bv Aba. 
THE II IliEWOEM — ( Continued. ) 
ErecC'iViinn and Itcmedies . — The only good 
thing in connection Avith chena cnltivation is 
that it prevents to a great extent tlie increase 
oi noxious insect.s, for in the act of burning a 
clearing not only are tlie insect.s that found har- 
bourage in file trees and shrnlis of the jungle, but 
also the eggs and larvae of those that are found in 
the soil aie destroyed. To this fact may be attri- 
buted tlie immunity onr chena crops liave always 
en joyed from the attaclcs of the wireworm and 
other such insects. 
In England it is said that the wireworm does 
great damage to corn, hops, and other crojis, and 
there i,s every reason to believe that when we 
give up chena cnltivation and grow onr 
crops on ploughed and manured land, the wiie- 
worm will be a.s troublesome here in Ceylon as 
in 'England. 
Wlien grass land is newly broken np for culti- 
A'ation, it is ahvays advisable to adopt some means 
beforehand to diminish the number of insects 
and.jireA’eut their further increase. This is effected 
by an application of lime, ashes or any other sub- 
stance obnoxious to insects. Pai'ing and burning 
shonldbe practised not onlj’' for destroying the grub, 
but also as a means of getting rid of the Aveeds and 
roots of grass that might feed such grubs. The 
burning of all rubbish on the gi’ound is also re- 
commended. Strips of grass should not be left 
gro.wing in or at the sides of fields, lest the Avire- 
Avorms feeding in these spread and damage the 
groAA'ing civAps. 
It is said that Avireworms injure and AA’eaken 
a great deal more than they actually destroy. 
Therefore it is necessary that such methods of 
cultivation as will ensure a Adgorous groAvth be 
adojjted, so that the plants may be in a fit con- 
dition to use all the aA'ailable plant food and push 
forward and get over the attack, Avithout sinking 
under it as in the case of Aveak plants. 
In England drilling manure Avith the seed has 
been found useful. A mixture of guano AA'ith 
.supei’phosphute of lime, drilled AAdth the seed 
say.s Miss Ormei'od “ brought a good crop, AA'hilst 
the rest of the ijlants on the field perished by 
Avireworm ; in tliis case AvireAvorm AA'as found 
betAA'een the drills, Avhich seems to point to the 
safety of the crop being from the dislike of the 
grubs to tlie manure, asAvell as to the increased 
strength of groAvlh. Dissolved liones drilled with 
the .seed also do good.” 
I^iot !i])])lied during rain, so that it may be 
w a.-^hed down into the .soil, has been found to be 
ii'idiil both in driAing away some of the Avire- 
A\()rm and slimidaling (he vigoi'ons groAAdh of the 
iToj). .\ifiM(eof soda and common salt mixed in 
I he ]iroporlion of one InmdredAveight of the 
lorniei' to (wo of (he laderlnnc jiroved useful. 
'J'he following is (aken from Mi.ss Ormerod’s 
‘‘Manual of Injnrions Insecls:” — 
B'i( li regard (o inechaiiic'il ajiplicalion.s, one of 
(he ernnmon reniedii'.s used among corn croji.s i.s, 
rolling w idi a liea\y lad'er so a.s (o .solidify the 
'■nrfnee and t li IIS prevent (he grubs from traA'clling 
( lirongh ( lie (.round. The remedies used amongst 
rool-crop- are d ri ll-hoei iig and horse-hoeing tvA'ice 
in a place, hand-hoeing close to the roA\-.s, and cliop- 
ping out to stop the progress of thcAvireworm along 
the drills ; here the object of the treatment is 
by .stirring the soil, to encourage the groAvth of the 
plants, and to harass and disturb the wireworm. 
“ In attack of wireAvonn onyoimg beds of year- 
old seedlings of forest-trees, it has been found of use 
to scrape the earth back from the collars of the 
young plants to adi.stanceof about six inches, so 
as to lay bare the larger roots, and hand-pick and 
destroy the grubs. Tlie roots Avere then dusted 
freely Avith equal parts of lime and fre.sh dry soot, 
and fresh soil used to cover them ; the old soil 
being remoA ed and charred, to kill any AvireAvorm 
that might remain in it.” 
(To he continved.) 
^ 
THE laws of CEYLON RELATING TO 
AGRICULTURE. 
(1.) Cattle Tresimstsf, No. 9 of 1876. 
I. The Avord “ cattle” when used in this Ordin- 
ance means Inills, coavs, oxen, heifers, calves and 
buffaloes. 
The Avord “animal” means except when it is 
othei’Avise expres.sed ; cattle, .sheep, goats and 
SAvine. 
The expression “ irrigation works ” means tanks, 
bunds, anients, slnice.s, channels and other works 
used for irrigation jmrjioses. 
The expression “ duly authorized pierson ” 
means any per.son .specially or generally authorized 
to act under the provisions of this Ordinance by 
the GoA ernment Agent for the Province or the 
As.sistant Government Agent of the District 
Avherein .such person resides. 
II. Any proprietor or occupier of land (or any 
other person by his direction) may seize, tie up 
and detain animals trespassing thereon. Such 
land shall be fenced according to local cu.stom, or 
may be unfenced if, by the established custom, no 
fence is required. The detention of such animals 
shall be until the damage, if any, and the fair 
expense of their keep (assessed in manner herein- 
after stated) shall be paid or recoA'ered. 
III. Animals found trespassing on irrigation 
AA’orks may be seized or pursued off the works 
and seized by any person duly authorized. 
IV. The OAA'ners of any stray cattle shall in the 
case of trespass on priA ate lands be liable to pay 
to the projn-ietor or occupier, and in the case of 
trespass on irrigation Avorks to the Government 
Agent or the Assistant Government Agent the 
full amount of damages arising by reason of such 
trespass ; and if such tre.«iAa.ss Avas committed in 
the night time, he shall be further liable to pay 
to the CroAvn a fine equal to the amount of the 
damages aAA’arded. 
V. Procedure. 
( 1.) Notice of seizure or trespass shall, AA'ith as 
little delay as possible, be given to some Police 
Constable or local Headman having jurisdiction 
in the District. All rights under this Ordinance 
shall bi‘ forfeited if such notice be not duly 
given. 
(2.) Such Constables or Headmen shall there- 
upon insjmet the land and animals, and with three 
or more respectable persons of the neighbourhood, 
if available, (otherAvise alone) shall (a) Ascertain 
