BLIGHTS.

Though frequent, blights are seldom so widespread as to affect  the general harvest. Jvari or Indian millet suffers from both strong north-easterly and westerly winds. With strong north-easterly winds the stalk turns red and grain does not form. The disease is called jangamyarog. If a strong westerly wind blows when the crop is in ear, the ears remain unfilled or the green grain or isad is converted into a sticky mass called chikta. If a timely shower of rain falls the crop improves. Indian millet also suffers from diseases known as gosavi, kandekuri, and kani which are said to be brought by cloudy weather. In gosavi the grain sprouts in the ear. In kandekuri the plant becomes barren. And in the kani (Anglice smut) the ears become elongated and black, and the seed contains only a black powder which is easily freed. Indian millet affected by gosavi and kandekuri is cut for green fodder. Wheat sometimes suffers from a disease called tamberi (Anglice rust). The grain is shriyelled and the stalk and leaves are covered with reddish spots. Spiked millet or bajri is sometimes though rarely affected by a blight- called shenda. The leaves of the crop become yellow and the stalk is stunted. Gram, peas, pigeon pea, and other pulses suffer more from worms than from diseases induced by unseasonable weather. To destroy these worms which in cloudy weather gather on leaves, much vigilance and labour are required. Among vegetables brinjals suffer most from worms. To guard the plant against worms its roots are dipped before transplantation in a solution of cowdung and assafaetida. If they appear when the plant is growing the grubs are got rid of by cutting the main stalk of the plant a few inches above the ground. When watered the stem sprouts again and grows into a healthy plant. Sunday is considered the luckiest day for planting out brinjals and sprinkling them with cow's urine to keep off leaf-insects. Cotton suffers from a disease called chimta which is said to be brought by close and cloudy weather. With a timely late shower the crop improves. Sugarcane suffers from white ants and an insect called humni. It is also much damaged by rats and jackals. Sometimes if not watered in time the sugarcane becomes hollow in the centre.

LOCUSTS.

In Kolhapur locusts were till lately almost unknown. Their first visit, when the numbers were not large enough to do any harm, is recorded to have taken place about ten years ago. Their visits however seem to have become more frequent. In 1882 both before and after the rains myriads appeared along the Sahyadri range and a good distance inland. The husbandmen lighted fires and beat drums in their fields to drive them off; but their efforts were in vain and so they look upon locusts as a visitation from God.