367 
THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
Animal Plagues. 
Many countries possess wild animals, snakes, or 
insects that are dangerous or troublesome to man, 
some interesting particulars are given by Mr. P. 
L. Simmonds, F. L. S. In India 23,000 persons 
and over 68,000 cattle are killed by tigers, leop- 
ards, bears, wolves, and other carnivora, and in 
greatest proportion by snakes. Government bounty 
results in the annual killing of about 17,600 wild 
beasts and 578,000 snakes. Wolves have been 
troublesome in France, but the reward of £ 3 
for each one killed is causing their rapid extermi- 
nation. The Russian forests, in 1880, contained 
170.000 wolves, which, together with bears, devour 
annually 200 children and travellers, 500 horses, 
more than 1000 oxen, and 4000 other domestic 
animals. In Austria 160 bears, 200 hyenas and 
1200 wolves are slaughtered annually. Finland 
loses 5500 cattle each year by wolves. In Java 
270 persons are killed yearly by tigers and 180 by 
crocodiles. The locust is a dreaded, pest in 
northern Africa, Cyprus, and other quarters, 
where it often brings famine. In Cyprus a bonus 
of £ 40 a ton is paid for destroying the eggs, 
and in some years 60 lons-equivalent to 4680 
million locusts-have been destroyed. Australasia 
has a liberal share of animal plagues. The kan- 
garoos are an indigenous nuisance, each consuming 
as much grass as a sheep, and their numbers being 
so great that 10,000 a year for six consecutive 
years have been killed on a sheep run of 60,000 to 
80.000 acres. The dingo or native dog is another 
foe of the settler, destroying many sheep. But 
the most formidable pest is the introduced rabbit, 
for whose destruction hundreds of thousands of 
pounds are now paid yearly, while the damage 
done amounts to millions. If undisturbed and 
sufficiently fed, two pairs of these creatures would 
in three years increase to the enormous number of 
5.000. 000. Victoria alone has 100 official inspectors 
and some 10,000 persons employed in rabbit exter- 
mination: while in New Zealand, which had not 
a rabbit twenty years ago but now exports 
12.000. 000 skins yearly, many colonists are think- 
ing seriously of vacating the country with their 
Hocks and herds. 
The Malta Potato Disease 
The partial failure of the potato crop in the 
Maltese Islands during last season calls for prompt 
attention on the part of our agriculturists. 
We would, therefore, call the attention of the 
Maltese potato grower to the following preventive 
measures which have been suggested by the Direc- 
tor of the experiment station at Maine. 
(1), Burn all of the tops and leaves after the 
crop is gathered. This is based on the belief that 
winter spores are developed in the stems and 
leaves, or that the mycelium may possibly hiber- 
nate in stems and tubers, and possibly winter 
spores also occur in them; they would no doubt 
survive in potatoes left on the ground. 
(3.) Select seed for planting from fields or 
localities exempt from disease in previous season. 
Great care should be exercised in selecting good 
seed. It is believed by some that diseased tubers 
are the principal means of infection. 
(4.) Rotate the potatoe crop. This is based on 
the belief that the means of infection survives ti e 
winter in the potatoes, stems, and leaves left in 
the soil 
(5.) Burn all decayed potatoes taken from the 
cellar, or bins, and all other potato refuse ; do not 
throw them on the compost heap, as the fungus 
retains its vitality, and is spread far and wide with 
the manure. 
(6.) Plant early in the season, and those varie- 
ties that mature early. This is based upon the 
belief that the fungus does not mature until the 
warm summer months, and therefore early plan- 
ting and early varieties would escape the disease 
from outside infection. 
(7.) If cut seed is used, the surface should be 
allowed to dry, for when placed in the ground the 
fungus, if present, would find ready entrance to 
the tubers through the freshly-cut surface. This is 
based upon the belief that the means of continuing 
the fungus’ occur in the soil. 
(8.) If varieties less subject to the attack of rot 
can be found, select them for growing. 
(9.) Potatoes affected should be dug immedia- 
tely and marketed, as the disease rapidly spreads 
to the tubers in the ground, and is almost sure to 
spread in the bin if they are stored* 
