134 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Ava., 1899. 
field was replanted, but the grubs again appeared, and the land was again 
replanted. We gaye it four ploughings, with boys behind the furrows picking 
up the grubs and placing them in tins. After three or four ploughings in this 
way, the land was once more replanted, and to-day there is a good ay of cane 
on it apparently unaffected by grubs. A month ago another portion of Bingera 
was destroyed by cane grubs. The land was ploughed out with a very small 
furrowed plough, with two boys behind picking up the grubs, and in four days 
these boys filled three tins full. This way of reducing the pest is, I think, as 
effective as capturing the beetle, and I consider it has been successful with us. 
Mr. BE. Swayne (Mackay): Unfortunately, in this district, we have had 
a yery large experience of the beetle. It is some 25 years since they first 
appeared, and 7 or 8 years ago their numbers attained such dimensions 
’ as to threaten the stoppage of cane-growing altogether on the north side of the 
river. I think, however, that we have got them in hand. What we did was 
simply this: First of all, single plantations took the matter up, but it soon 
became apparent that concerted action was necessary. Some 4 years ago the 
Agricultural Department voted £1,500 to assist in the extermination of the 
pest. Immediately that was done, each locality in this district, where the grub 
was prevalent, started to collect money, although, of course, previous to this 
hundreds of pounds had been collected and expended in the destruction of the 
pest, but no official record was kept of the expenditure. Since united action 
was taken, however, we have kept particulars, and I shall now give you a few of 
them. ach locality formed a committee, and these appointed representatives 
to a central committee in Mackay. In 1896-97, the total sum passed through 
the central account was £1,323, the total amount of beetles destroyed being 
17 tons. The Government endowment for that year was 17s.1d. Next year the 
total amount passed through the central fund was £973 19s. 7d., and the quantity 
of beetles destroyed was 212 tons. The Government endowment for that 
year was lds. 9d. The reason for the increase in the quantity of grubs 
destroyed was owing to the fact that many localities which stood out the 
first year joined in in the second. This present year we begin to mark the 
benefit, for, although as many centres are working as last year, yet we haye 
reduced the cost of beetle destruction down to £353, the amount of beetles 
destroyed being some 11} tons. The Government endowment was £1 for each 
£1 subscribed. _ At Nindaroo some years ago, after that estate had lost cane to 
the extent of thousands of tons, Mr. Paget started systematically to work, and 
in 1895, on that place, he collected 8.800 lb. of beetles. In 1896 the amount 
collected had fallen to 4,430 1b.; in 1897 to 1,599} lb.; in 1898 to 1,186 lb.; 
and this year the amount so far gathered is only 867 1b. The locality at 
Nindaroo is_ expressly favourable to the grub pest, most of the land being 
surrounded by scrub; and if it can be coped with there, it can, I think, be 
coped with anywhere. As for funds, we levy in each centre so much per acre, 
although I understand in some centres the levy is made on the cane grown. 
At Homebush the levy is 6d. per acre, but last year no levy was made, as the 
credit balance from the previous year was suflicient to meet all expenses. 
The beetles generally come out about Christmas, but if the showers are earlier 
they come out earlier. Most of the centres paid 6d. per lb. for beetles 
collected. Of course the pest is kept down by ploughing the land, and if the 
birds follow the plough so much the better. With regard to cow pea, I suppose 
it is probable that any land which is rich in humus is suitable for the propagation 
of the pest; but I do not think cow pea is more favourable to its development 
than stable manure, for instance. The arguments against cow pea would also 
paogably apply to it. Then there is the trash. We plough in the trash and 
aye no grubs, although there are some people who think that doing this 
encourages them. 
Mr. H. Carrermutt (Woongarra): We have had fields very badly affected 
by giubs, but by exposing these latter to the sun we have got rid of them. In 
the Woongarra Scrub every farmer keeps a boy behind the plough, destroying 
the grubs, but as for catching the beetles I think it is impracticable. There is 
