Experiment in Fiji

Hawaiian Toads

From Our Own Correspondent SUVA, April 4.

REEKING more efficient control over garden and cane pests, the Depart ment of Agriculture has embarked on an interesting experiment, and by a recent steamer, a shipment of 67 toads of the species Bufo marinus arrived from Honolulu.

This experiment is a result of a sug gestion put forward in the Legislative Council recently by the Hon. Alport Barker.

These toads are described as being most voracious eaters of insect pests, and are particularly effective in dealing with the rose-leaf-cutting beetle, and the banana borer.

This first shipment has been sent to Lautoka, where there is said to be an ideal breeding ground, and as they breed very quickly, it should not be long before there are sufficient to distribute all over t)he Colony, It is reported that they have done wonderful work in Honolulu, where they were first introduced from Porto Hico about four years ago. [EDITORIAL NOTE: Fiji should seek some in formation from the Department of Agriculture m Queensland. The Hawaiian toads were intro duced there; and it was reported recently that country residents there were objecting to the further propagation of the creatures, for some reason.] Mr. Colin Mackay, chairman of direc tors of Upper Watut Gold Alluvials N.L., returned to Victoria from a visit to America in connection with the manage ment of company by the Mariposa on April 24.