432 
SPICES 
CHAP. 
N. Mukerji says the out-turn of turmeric boiled and 
dried comes to about 16 maunds per acre, but as much 
as 50 maunds has been obtained. The prepared dry 
turmeric may fetch as much as 5 rupees per maund. 
The cost of cultivation comes to 50 rupees. 
PESTS 
There are but few pests recorded as attacking 
turmeric. -Injuries caused by a species of thrips is 
mentioned in the Indian Museum Notes ^ vol. i. p. 109. 
The thrips is a very small black insect, which attacks 
the leaves. The eggs are laid on the back of the leaf, 
and the insect when hatched sucks the sap of the leaf. 
They become rolled up and turn yellow, eventually 
dying. This spoils the crop, as the rhizomes are not 
developed. The insect is known in Madras as “ Sulta- 
thegulu.” It is suggested that the best way of dealing 
with the pest is to destroy it by the use of whale-oil 
soap solution, in the proportion of 1 lb. of soap to 4 
or 5 gallons of water, or Pyrethrum powder may be 
used ; 1 ounce of Pyrethrum in a gallon of water. 
The turmeric moth [Dadessa evaxalis). The cater- 
pillar of this little moth inhabits the stem of turmeric 
and other plants of the family of gingers, and is often 
troublesome, boring up the leaf-stems and causing them 
to fall and die. It is about f in. long when full grown, 
smooth, except for fine scattered hairs on its back and 
sides. The head and the first segment are black, the 
body of a pale semi-transparent pinkish colour, with 
grey or black dots on warts down the back, and a row 
just above the spiracles on each side. A pink line just 
above the spiracles runs the whole length of the body. 
The insect lives in a burrow in the stems, and can 
be detected by the exudation of its excreta from the 
holes in the stem, and the withering of the leaf. The 
chrysalis is about 1 in. long, and remains in the tunnel 
bored by the caterpillar. The moth, which is 1 in. 
across the wings when expanded, is entirely ochre- 
