A.—4

16

Beetles Collected on Native and European Plantations. in upolu.

in savai'i. Ist April, 1923, to 31st March, 1924. Native — j European — Beetles .. .. .. 100,527 | Beetles .. .. .. 2,840 Larvte .. 2,217,506 Larva; .. .. .. 16,943 Eggs .. .. .. 47,658 I Eggs .. '.. .. 1,109 Flying-foxes. The presence of this troublesome pest among the coconut-palms became very pronounced at the beginning of the year under review. There has, however, been a noticeable diminution in the number of flying-foxes seen lately in the; plantations and around Native villages. The reason for this is most probably that an abundance of food is now available for them in the bush. In the earlier part of last year, owing to tho severe weather, food must have been very scarce in the bush, in which case the famished foxes would be compelle;d to raid the coconut and othe;r cultivations, thus accounting for the e;xcessive numbers observed. With a view to combatting the flying-fox nuisance a competition was commenced on the Ist January, and is to close on the 30th June, carrying a prize of £10 to the person bringing in the greatest number of feet of flying-foxes during the period specified. In addition to the prize, payment is being made for flying-foxes destroyed at the rate of Is. for twenty-five. Native Food Besources. The accompanying return will show to what extent the planting of foodstuffs, &c, has been carried out by the Natives under the supervision of the Inspectors of the; Agricultural Department. On the whole, food has been plentiful throughout both islands during the year.

Schedule of Plantings of Native Foodstuffs, &c., for the Year ended 31st March, 1924. Upolu.

No account is taken of many thousand Lauio, Laupaogo, Laufala (for mats) and U'a (for tapacloth). savai'i. Coconuts .. .. .. 104,076 Taamu .. .. .. 2,806,893 Cacao .. .. .. 93,090 Yams .. .. .. 234,039 Bananas .. .. .. 1,240,339 Sugarcane .. .. .. 1,123,488 Taro .. .. .. 2,269,482 Kava .. .. .. 194,590

Quarter. Native Plantatioi Beetles. Larvae. IS. Euro; >ean Plantatii ins. Eggs. Beetles. Larvae. Eggs. 923 —April-Juno July-September October-December 924 —January-March 21,177 18,834 21,301 24,289 638,898 612,241 605,023 635,369 50,787 71,585 69,773 72,058 6,577 5,586 3,766 4,829 85,745 85,000 83,790 65,317 7,485 4,742 7,991 10,788 Totals for Year ended 31st March, 1924 85,601 2,491,531 264,203 20,758 319,852 31,006 Totals for Years 1922-23 101,203 2,945,253 316,397 29,909 504,315 24,530

Date. Coconuts Cacao. Bananas. Taro. Taamu. Tobacco. Yams. Sugarcane. Kava. Arrowroot. 1923. April-June .. July-Sept. . . Oct.-Dec. .. 1924. Jan.-Mar. .. 15,320 17,050 36,943 980 9,398 10,355 90,500 79,571 155,036 570,200 782,468 887,365 54,210 106,620 182,702 1,550 27,870 750 60,392 10,271 17,507 146,368 48,708 65,160 660 332,000 990 5,479 28,121 870 6,100 82,320 443,000 50,800 900 Totals .. 75,413 20,733 407,427 2,683,033 394,332 208,310 208,310 87,509 '415,417 35,490 870