AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN 
OE THE 
STRAITS 
AND 
FEDERATED MALAY STATES. 
No. 2.] FEBRUARY, 1904. [Vol. III. Part I. 
PINEAPPLE CULTIVATION. 
Plates 
Diseases and Pests ok Pines. 
The worst animal pests which destroy pines in the Straits Set- 
tlements are porcupines, musangs, and wild pigs, which are very 
destructive in districts where there is much forest. Insect pests 
are few and seldom very injurious. The worst seem to be mealybugs 
(' Coccidoe ) which attack the young leaves. A species of Dactylopius , 
D. longispina is mentioned by Mr. Tryon as doing damage in 
Southern Queensland, and also in New Guinea (Queensland Ento- 
mologist reprinted in Cape Agricultural Journal, Vol. XVIII, p. 549). 
These mealybugs attack the young leaves and base of pine and ac- 
cording to Mr. Tryon in dry weather descend below the ground 
and do more damage there. He points out that the ants olten 
cover the base of the pine by a loose wall of vegetable debris, 
under which the mealybug thrives being in partial darkness. The 
presence of ants in quantity on a tree or plant in the tropics usually 
implies the existence of Coccidoe or Aphides of some kind, and may 
often be taken as a warning that the plant is sick. It is only when 
abundant that the ants take the trouble to wall in the mealybugs. 
Mr. Tryon recommends the use of sulphur and limewash, first 
immersing the suckers in this before planting. 
Mr. C. E. Smith (Jamaica Bulletin IX, p. 165) recommends the 
use of tobacco water — r pound of tobacco to two gallons of water, 
for cleaning the suckers. In any case infected suckers should not be 
planted, and a little reasonable care on the Pineapple Estates 
should prevent any serious damage from this pest. 
The West Indian mealybug appears to belong to another species 
D, brevipes. 
Mites. — In the Queensland Journal of Agriculture 1898, p. 462, 
certain mites are described and figured, one of which Tar sons mus 
ananas is stated to make minute hdesin the pines and allow of 
the entrance of the Care-rot fungus in Australia. The mite itself ap- 
parently does but little harm, in any other way. 
