The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-10
Sugar r Cane Moth BOrer

The importation of parasites from Cuba and other tropical countries offers the most hopeful method of ridding the sugar cane growing regions of tho United States of the sugar can moth borer, or al least of keeping it under control and reducing the injury from it in the opin- ion of experts of the United States de- partment of agriculture. A department bulletin, Nb. 74s, "The Sugan Cane Moth Borer," written by T. E. Holloway and U. c. Loftin. chronological assistants in southern field crop insect investigations, with technical descriptions by Carl Hein- rich. has just been issued. The subject is treated $xhaustively. Results of long continued and careful experiments are given. While number of means are suggested for curtailing the injury from the moth b orer, the introduction of nat ural enemSes appears to be the one hold ing out the most hope
 The sugar cane moth borer i'm the United States is confined to three isolated re- gions closely conforming to the areas of large commercial planting of sugar cane-southsrn Louisiana, southern Flor ida and the extreme southern tip of Texas Throughout these regions. it re- duces the yield of sugar in varying meas ure, averaging, perhaps, about 70 per cent. The chief damage results from the larva tunneling lengthwise through the mature canN, not killing it, but injuring it severely. retarding it's growth and sub jecting it tc the fungous disease known as red rot IA slighter measure of damage follows larval attacks upon very young plants, resulting in what is known as dead hearts
 The moth borer feeds on number of plants other than sugar cane, rendering usual methods of control extraordinarily difficult and. for the most part. not ef ficacious Experiments in poisoning, at traction to light traps and the like have not proved effective. Five definite recom- mendations are made. however, other than the introduction of parasites.
 Scraps of cane left about factories and derricks after the grinding season should be destroyed, preferably by burning, and cars in which cane is shipped should be kept free of such scraps. Seed cane should be planted in the fall and kept as deeply covered as practicable Cane for shipment beyond the infested area should be selected so as to obtain it free from borers pr, if this is impracticable, it should be sbaked for at least an hour in Bordeaux mixture or solution Of nicotine sulIIhate previous to shipment. The trash leaves or "shucks' left on the fields| after cutting should not be burned. but should be lightly covered with earth in the fall and plowed out in the spring.. The cutting out of dead hearts" and dead plants is said to be theoretically sound practice and, where an abundance of cheap labor is obtain able. might be recommended
 It is pointed out that the introduction of parasites has proved effective in Hawaii, and that experiments Tn the United Statek have given promising re- suits. If the introduction of beneficial parasites can be undertaken, the experts say, it should be done on large scale and it would be advisable to station two men in Cuba to collect the parasites, and one in Louisiana to receive and uitimately to release them on the plantations.