1 Ocr., 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 259 
(d) That it is very difficult to select “ eye-sound” horses of suitable type 
from a mob of unhandled animals, and a number of “ misfits” 
would be the inevitable consequence. ‘These, a dealer could get rid 
of perhaps without much loss ; but a Government buyer in a similar 
position would be certain to lose heavily. 
(e) That there would be complaints of interference with a trade. 
(7) That the establishment of such a concern would absorb money, 
energy, and attention which would be better employed in fostering 
horse-breeding in India. 
The only reason which can be alleged in favour of the proposal seems to 
be that the middleman would be got rid of, but, as he takes all the risk up to 
the moment of purchase in India, his elimination would be of doubtful value. 
Other serious drawbacks might be mentioned, but enough has been said to 
demonstrate the impracticability of the scheme which the Commission have no 
hesitation in advising the Government of India to reject. 
On the question of reserve, the Commission would point out that the 
strength, laid down, is quite inadequate for meeting emergent requisitions in 
time of war, and, until a sufficient reserve of country-breds is procurable in 
India, Australia is the country from which the horse supply must be supple- 
mented,and the Commission consider that India should always possess a supply 
of Australian horses, in addition to mobilisation requirements, sufficient to 
replace casualties for one year. 
Mr. P. R. Gordon, Chief Inspector of Stock, Queensland, in criticising the 
report of the Commission, says:—“ A forty-eight years’ Australian experi- 
ence in stock matters, during a portion of which time I was a successful breeder 
of light horses in Victoria, warrants me in strongly recommending a stallion 
tax as the best present means of weeding out the innumerable worthless, non- 
descript stallions that are working incalculable ruin in our horse stock, and 
destroying what would otherwise be a valuable national asset.” 
The consensus of opinion at the Agricultural Conference held last July in 
Toowoomba appeared to be in favour of a tax on stallions. 
EXPENSIVE LADYBIRDS. 
Orchardists are all aware of the value of a certain ladybird which feeds on 
scale insects and consequently is a most valuable insect to growers of citrus 
and other fruits. It will be remembered that Mr. H. Newport, the Instructor 
in Coffee Culture, on his first visit to Queensland, had a mission to collect the 
scale-eating ladybird for transmission to India. The National Nurseryman 
(U.S.) says that Mr. C. L. Marriott, Assistant Entomologist of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, sent to the department headquarters, in Washington, 
seventeen ladybirds found in China and believed to bea parasite (?.) of the San José 
Scale. These insects arrived last autumn and were carefully tended, but 
before egg-laying time this spring all died with the exception of two females. 
These have laid many eggs which have hatched, and the larve have been feed- 
ing on scale insects provided for them. It is expected that the ladybirds will 
have increased largely in number by next fall. A test in orchards affected by 
the San José Scale will be made with the ladybirds, and it is hoped that the 
latter will be as destructive of the scale insects in this country as they have 
been in China. 
The two female ladybirds which survived have cost the Government $2,000 
(£400) each, itissaid. Ifthe brood which they have started should be the fore- 
runner of an effective enemy of the San José Scale, the cost will be very small 
compared with the benefit. Nurserymen, as well as orchardists, will await 
results with interest. 
