White bug is a distinct species of insect, known as Pseudococcus Adoniclum. It is small, flat, oval, about Tig in. long, covered with a white down or fur, and having parallel ridges running across its back from side to side, like the wood-louse, though on a much smaller scale. It is found in various stages of development all the year round, and takes up its quarters on the roots of the trees to about 1 ft. beneath the surface, at the axils of tho leaves, and among the stalks of the crop clusters, which it outs off wholesale, either during the blossom stage, or just after the young berries have been formed ; in the latter case, its operations may easily be recognized, by the large quantities of young green berries with which the ground beneath the trees will be strewn. It is also easily discovered by a white, flour-like excretion which it deposits around the axil nooks where it has made its abode. The prescriptions above recommended for black bug will be here found equally efficacious. In either case, probably, a decoction of common tohacco might be sufficient, while much more easily prepared. The white bug has a decided preference for hot, dry situations, and generally disappears in the wet season ; too often, however, only to return as soon as the blossom has set.
Canker.—A disease which has created great havoc in Natal, and which causes an annual loss of about 1 per cent. of the trees in Jamaica, is " canker " or "bark disease." The first symptom is the withering of a, tertiary or secondary branch, when it will be found that the bark under the primary branches is decayed and blue mouldy; the blue mould gradually extends downwards over the whole stem ; a tree once attacked never recovers, but dies in a few months. All soils and situations seem liable to the disease, the trees beginning to suffer when about six years old. Though the mould is the proximate cause of death, the ultimele cause is evidently due to some unfavourable external condition. The opinions of experienced persons as to what this may be are various ; it is attributed to neglect of cultivation, to unsuitability of climate, and to want of depth of subsoil. All may be partially right ; but the lest seems most probable, and is the reason given for it in Jamaica.
Rot, Grubs, Rats, Squirrels, &c.—" Rot," or the blackening and withering of the young leaves and shoots, is due to wet s.nd cold, and may be cured by good drainage and mulching. Grubs of a large yellow kind destroy the tap-roots of the plants ; cattle manure is a fertile source of them, and should he well limed. Rats, squirrels, grasshoppers, ants and spiders collectively do consider
able mischief, and should be exterminated whenever possible. In Java., a fungus attacks the stems, giving them a white appearance, and producing death in all the parts above. In Venezuela, occurs a minute fungus named Depazea maculosa, which causes the so-called " iron-stain," circular or elliptical blotches of an ochreish-yellow colour. The same appears to be in Jamaica also.
Harvesting.—The clusters of buds which duly make their s,ppears,nce are, at first, little, dark green spikes ; as they grow, they become straw-coloured, then under the influence of a few showers, almost white, and finally burst into snowy blossoms. After a day or two, the flowers turn brown and fade away, the more gradually, the better. - While the bloom is out, rainfall is unwelcome ; but after it has "set," a shower is beneficial. The pistils of the flowers soon assume the form of berries, gradually growing, and changing their colour from dark-green to light-yellow, which finally deepens to red. As soon as a. sprinkling of red berries is seen, picking should begin ; it will con tinue as long as any berries ripen, say 1 to 3 months. The berries, or rather cherries, must not be picked until fully ripe, as indicated by a deep purplish-crimson colour. As the crop rarely or never ripens all at once, two or three pickings are required, the second being the principal one, while-the others are rather gleanings. Each mature cherry should be picked separately off its stalk, and never stripped off; the cherries as picked s,re dropped into a small bag—say 18 in. square—sus pended from the neck ; these hags are emptied into or 2 bushel sacks placed at intervals on the paths. If allowed to get over ripe, in wet weather, the cherries are liable to burst and drop the beans, or to fall off bodily; on clean ground, much may be recovered. In hot weather, the cherries are more likely to dry up and hold on to the trees. In order to convey the cherries to the curing houses, a great saving is effected, in long distances, by running them with water down galvs,nized iron spouting, made in 8 ft. lengths, laid with even gradients and curves, and duly secured. The cherries are despatched from cisterns, to which the due proportion of water is admitted; provision is made for collecting and utilizing the latter at the works.