THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
455 
as there was insufficient scope for feeding and in 
transmission the larvae, five in number, died. I am 
hopeful that for some reason they had been depo- 
sited by an over-anxious or careless mother quite 
out of her latitude, for it would indeed prove a 
calamitous affair if Ccratitis transfered all or any 
portion of its affection, to our much prized and 
petted vine. Mr. Francis, now resident at Middle- 
burg, informed me that when he resided in Bloem- 
fontein, he observed a preference shown by the 
maggot for Taai-pit or Clingstone peaches. The 
Rev. Mr. Murray thinks the “Breda’ 5 our best 
apricot as regards freedom from maggot; the 
“Kaisha” very bad for parasites ; “Ceylon” ripens 
mostly on one side and that is maggot ed : “No- 
vember” very fair; “Belle Ban me” an excellent 
peach. Granted that this is so, and one fruit more 
adaptable than other, less subject to parasites and 
a better class of fruit altogether, we should na- 
turally expect growers to rear superior types. 
This question is worthy discussion as therein 
“might hidden lie” a partial solution to our dif- 
ficulty, by my own opinion, from a notist’s point 
of view alone, is this — citriperda is no epicurean. 
All is grist that goes to its mill. Its discrimination 
rested with taste, instead of oviposition I could 
readily accept such a distinction, or were the tis- 
sues of one variety more pliable and softer than 
another according to the fly’s test, then its living 
sword would be able to appreciate the ease of 
penetration. But I do admit and insist that ancient, 
played-out trees of any kind of fruit are most af- 
fected by the maggot, and here we have matter 
for thought. 
(To le continued ). 
The Utilization of the Waste Lands 
in Malta and Gozo. 
The article on the utilization of the waste 
grounds of Malta and the introduction of the 
sisal industry into the island has excited a consi- 
derable amount of interest, and has, on the whole, 
been most favourably received by the press and 
the public. 
In view of the number of letters I have received 
and of the number of verbal questions that have 
been put to me, I now propose to give a few more 
details bearing on the subject. 
The proposals contained in my last article may 
be classed under three heads: — 
I. That the rocky wastes, which comprise nearly 
37 per cent, of the islands total areage 
should be trenched and soiled. This soil is 
to Jbe obtained by crushing the rocks and 
mixing the debris with existing soil or with 
the £ Greensands,and other phosphate-bearing 
rocks in the islands. 
II. To break up, and economise by spreading over 
the areas around them, the beds of Qua,r- 
tenary loams which occur in patches in 
different parts of the Islands. 
The unutilized patches now represent 
about 5 per cent, of the island’s area. 
III. To introduce the industry known as “Sisal 
growing” either in what are now T the un- 
cultivated districts, or in those cultivated 
areas where the produce at present dots 
not give an adequate return for the capital 
and labour expended— or in both. 
The project, though old in name is original in 
method; and, like all new proposals, it has not 
entirely escaped the fire of ad verse, though I believe 
well meant, criticism. 
The difficulties which have been advanced by 
some are not of such a nature but that they may 
be readily overcome, if firmly and energetically 
grappled with. 
The conservatism of the Maltese farmer is, to 
'my mind, a phrase only. 
ITe may be non -progressive in point of fact; but 
his conservatism is clue rather to force of circums- 
tances than to an innate non -appreciation of the 
benefits which are to be derived from adopting the 
latest methods and implements in the practice of 
his calling. Proposals have been made to organize 
technico — agricultural classes for the purpose 
of teaching him in the vernacular; but the sche- 
mes have never gone beyond the “talk and paper " 
stage. Brochures have been printed, commissions 
j have sat, and papers without number have 
been written for his benefit — but always in 
j English or Italian, languages which are as foreign 
to him as Anglo-Saxon would be to a Chinese. 
How then can it be expected that he will ad- 
vance if no opportunities of learning the views of 
j those who would see his agricultural methods im- 
1 proved, and his position bettered are afforded him ; 
