Pas03) 
into a beetle, and flies away to reproduce more of its species. If the weather 
kept dry, however, it stayed in the ground, and this made the collection and 
subsequent destruction of them easier. It was owing to this last fact that 
they had been able to fairly satisfactorily cope with the pest on the Herbert 
the last couple of seasons. His own losses from it this season would only be a. 
third of what they were a few years ago. They were thus making some 
headway against the grubs. In conclusion, Mr. Lely said he had mentioned 
some of the bhghts and pests Northern cane-growers had to contend with, but — 
he could assure them that the unfavourable climatic conditions were a greater 
consideration with them than all the blights and pests put together, and they 
_ could therefore perhaps understand the desire for that kind of labour which 
was suitable for their climate, It should be remembered they were descended 
from people who had been brought up in temperate climates for thousands of 
years, and he might say if a white man were paid really what he should be 
paid, taking into consideration the injury to his constitution through work in 
the canefield, £1 a day would hardly recoup him. 
Mr. Epps asked for particulars about Cheribon cane, but Mr. Thynne 
reminded him that few varieties had the same name in two different districts. 
_ In reply, Mr. Lury said the objection made by manufacturers to Cheribon | 
was that owing to the presence of a large amount of acid in it, clarification was 
rendered difficult. He did not wish to infer that it was a hard cane to crush. 
In reply to another question of Mr. Epps, Mr. Lety said he had had no 
experience of bisulphide of carbon in the destruction of cane grubs, although 
he believed it had been used. He had tried, however, diluted ammonia. This 
would kill the grubs if sufficiently strong, and without prejudice to the cane. 
Mr, I. Wirrenry here remarked that he had tried this latter recipe for 
oranges, but had found it very expensive. 
Mr. Lety said he considered ail chemicals were expensive, even if it were 
only in the labour of applying them. They might do, however, for nurseries. — 
The ammonia was applied at the root of the cane. 
Mr. J. CU. Brunnici said he had been one of the first in Queensland to 
make experiments with a view towards the destruction of the grub. He had 
also been one of the first to try the application of bisulphide of carbon for 
this purpose, although at first he had been hampered by not having the proper 
apparatus. However, he could now give them a good idea of what it would 
cost to apply this particular chemical; and it might be added that it was the 
only satisfactory remedy for the grubs. He had tried trenches, lime, sulphuric 
acid, chemicals, in fact everything that could be imagined. With the majority 
of chemicals, when they were strong enough to kill the grub, they were 
generally strong enough to kill the cane, and so far as lime was concerned it 
was harmless. Bisulphide of carbon, however, was a splendid destroyer of 
grubs, and if properly used could be applied with comparatively little labour 
and expense. When the leaves of cane begin to wither, the probability is 
grubs are the cause, and if a stool was knocked over the grubs, generally about 
fifteen of them would be found at the foot. A little bisulphide of carbon, 
applied with a force pump into the earth amongst them, would be sufficient to 
kill them all. The chemical, although extremely volatile, had the advantage in 
this case of being very heavy, and this resulted in its staying in the ground | 
instead of rising out of it, A small quantity would kili all grubs within a 
radius of 2 feet of the place where it was injected. After the destruction of the 
grub by this cans the roots of the cane would recover within the course of a 
couple of months, a network of roots at the foot of the stool would be formed, 
and the crop would besaved. This remedy could be effectively applied ata cost of 
about from £2 to £2 10s. per acre. Bisulphide of carbon was easily manu- 
factured, and could probably be made on the spot. A good force pump was 
necessary for its application. : ‘ 
Mr. Levy thanked the last speaker for his information, and stated that 
if the grubs could be destroyed for £2 10s. an acre and the crop saved, the 
remedy was a practical one. It was not uncommon to soak cane plants in a. 
