PRICKLY PEAR ERADICATION. 
Prickly Pear Eradication. 
Institute's Scheme Approved. 
QUEENSLAND AND NEW SOUTH WALES CO-OPERATE. 
At the end of 1916 the Executive Committee of the Advisory 
Council of Science and Industry recommended a scheme for attacking 
the prickly pear problem by the Institute working in co-operation 
with the Queensland and New South Wales Governments. The ‘cost 
estimated at £8,000 a year for five years was to be jointly borne, the 
Jommonwealth finding half, and each of the States one-fourth. The 
Queensland Government immediately agreed to the scheme, but the 
New South Wales Government did not immediately approve. Its 
acceptance, however, has at length been accorded, and no doubt 
immediate steps will now be taken to put it into operation. The actual 
scheme is as follows :-— 
(a) That investigations should be carried out as to the suit- 
ability of insects and fungi known to be inimical -to 
prickly pear for acclimatization in Australia, as to the 
method of action of such insects or fungi on the pear, and 
as to such other matters as may arise in connexion with 
any biological or chemical researches found necessary. 
(b) That the work should be placed under the authority of a 
biological expert who shall be responsible to the Executive 
Committee of the Advisory Council of Science and 
Industry, and who should receive a salary of £1,000 per 
annum. 
(c) That three laboratories, comprising one central laboratory 
SEED aes : 
and two subsidiary laboratories, should be established 
and maintained in Queensland and New South Wales. 
(d) That the central laboratory should be established at 
Brisbane, where the insects would be received immediately 
they reached Australia, and where the staff would have 
access to literature and facilities for the use for special | 
investigation of University and Government laboratories. 
(e) That the two subsidiary laboratories should be established 
in country infested with prickly pear. One of these 
should be in New South Wales, whilst for the other the 
Queensland Government’s offer of the Dulacea Experi- 
ment Station should be accepted. These stations would 
carry out the work ef breeding and testing the introduced - 
insects, and should be in charge of thoroughly qualified 
entomologists, at salaries of £650 per annum. 
(f) That field laboratories should be established at such places | 
and at such times ag may be deemed necessary by the — 
biologist in charge for the purpose of introducing such » 
insects as are found suitable into particular areas, or 
for other special purposes. 
ZiT 
