SB
818
ENT (E86

I

AUTHOR’S EDITION
FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT ON THE EXPERIMENTAL FARMS FOR THE YEAR 1896

CAN ADA:

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM lott aula, Oly

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST /

(JAMES FLETCHER, LL.D., F.R.S.C., F.L.S.)

OTT AW, A
GOVERNMENT PRINTING BUREAU y
1897 1907

IS3A88

PAGE
PACKMOWLER SIMOTIES |. 0f qeie sets fnicie wee ves 224
A GTOLISICIATOESUINGD, .ccsciis cect siet sees 248
Amputating Brocade moth............... 228
AthissBlackor Peaehi.3h. 2 dc ars's las 3s 256
PAI ESHRETSUCIE-TLUOC ION -rclamasi closers creekate ee aie 256
SANT OVEN 3 LOSS 4 cae eae SOS TORR eee 264
PEC MUA SUELO LMM Este CarTaetals J corse ccelsnei crane 269
Apiculture, suggestions to beginners, i in. 270
Apple Fruit-miner. ... ........... Tae coe
PAD IGE OG via ive ere wcareisi- tat cies ates 256, 259
Arboretum and Botanic Garden.......... 224
PMI WOU le Au suhim sis) < 2 seis ip ehns éisye esis 231
PABUATONWS ENNUCTOSUS). vu. a sls 2 cs les ens cls 253
vaulle instante alse state sein cfc ties ciote © 276
Pcerceleyrawthneweer: feo oi are Sigs, Yarseyeye acct 269
Bees, experiments in wintering of 1895-96. 264
experiments in wintering of 1896-97... 270
itahvanstive-panded. .2 8:0... 2: 268
Bee-hive, in a wood shed.... ..........+. 269
kept on scales to show daily gain..... 269
I laclkemeachwAM HES ace cine sleet avd a iels 256
Botanical specimens, naming of .......... 223
Buckwheat foribeess... 20 sci veers sas 208
Cabbage Butterfly, Small White.......... 246
(Wanlkere worms! series. craictasie sis cnme shatters 252
Carneades ochrogaster... 2... 052.250.0005 247
Carpocapsa pomonella....... 0-2... eet OU
CLCTR OMIT ACSURUCHOI n= A\sredatn © sin es = «0/0 226
CEDUS MIU OMULUSK mt ns ith sks wcke eihane cieloiioteiey 229
Cereals, insect enemies of ..........- 226
China Cockle........ J oHicad faces ceo sates 275
(ivan Casesbeatoreericns acascce fee sone s oe 252
(GHOSITEOU Hing ©, 22 Ce SL EEC ERE 251
Cloverd Git WOrmis s,s ses sae eoiialeat sae e2dd
CoulanipBNGt here acces cic eiccisaeee om ts 250
Coleophora Fletcherella. ..0....c0..e0ese 252
Colorado Potato-beetle......... ... ..... 247
(HOTS UID eon AH GO CeO ED eee 225
Conotrachelus nenuphar.... ..........05- 255
COMMING CHIOTIENTALUSs) aA es es oslo es ase 276
CottonyGrass-scalenyis.,. Aicd ole cistecs aie 235
Cow Cockle....... Slot Coa ete 275
COwaehoro epee tute cotanens eres oa nein 275
WubewOmMsee rere: ces aoe 247
jHIeaAOH SHINO Woe, JES Be eee COREE 249
DDE NO OMG UD GUTATIS SB OOo ARC ona Oe 244
DOBU PROT UMO VRE tae anaes ee. haw vee 247
Entomological specimens, naming of . . 223
Entomophthora caloptent...........0..0006 237
ENtOMOSCES AMONIAIS . owe a eee cee se 244
EOC PGNCON STMT Joe one lanes 252
IEPUOMEULUS A fESUUCIE 5. 208 ieles dels 235
Erysimum orientale.........-. AS eR Reon 276
SEXLORUSE POUULECUAC A. cm\< <isie seas cisiciesss «tea 238
Eye-spotted Bud-moth................... 251
Muster; J Ohm, report By <i 5:.\ae5 2 ete as 264
Fodder crops, insects injurious to. . 234
** Foundation,” further experiments with
REST cha.) ap aR Nea che OD 271
Fruits, insect enemies of...... .......... 250
Gibson, E. A. Carew, on apple fruit-miner 260
Gordius. Sees Sony ae ciate ant) seme 238
GraimPlantlouse. 0... $s5.is bce cease 227
(orapeck by lNOKeran. Wel ih i laa ile de « 255
Grasses, experiments WiEni ee ee 223
TASSHOPPOLSw GMA seiiicty leds cat eiclmiae 235
fungous diseases of.. . 237
parasites of..... Br ey siANaghe Sei saan aatmaets 237
Gray Blister Beetle ........... .... 241
LEUT EO CIRSTATI an Hl DEPECHE ER ACO C 228
TCE ALOD UG SENT OL. a\:ckc a) <1s)sls) sfc cle sae en ee 263

Hair-snakes—Hair-worms
iHane’s-eariVins bandas. eee eee ae ne
Harrington, W. H., help from............
Hessian Fly
La KGY nS ih AN trpeterre chen, He oreo Sencar ote
Howard DrebaOr, aoe from
Isosoma hor CNA GG eRe

WOinb=wOLM.) = eee aes
Junetbectlescr msn ase cone.

Mee wee tree Datve ec necraescs cose
Oe eee

Leucania unipuncta..........
OCUst-Malue Ne eae es
Locusts on Sable Island
YOU CMOS. «ae cae Aha) age Nate eee
Macoun, Prof. John, Hae from
Macr obasis unicolor .
Mamestra picta.....
UU OUUU rg fons er AO Reh ere Oa ae
Manitoba, work in....
Mestines attendedi.n ncn a+ yy aacne a
Melanoplus atlanis ....
(DERM AMTE en Belo ee De meee
femur-rubrum. ...
SATIS hn 6 oem
Mytilaspis (METOVUBG 8 Sogou ow egan sacne
Neslia paniculata .....
Parasites, ¢
Pea Moth.
Peach Bark-borer......
Pear-tree Slug.

PTASSHOPPON Wan select ete

LLL T RAEN ONT ok DOGO Sods hos A eeee
Phylloxera vastatrixz.......
PVCU SPUD antes sciaie aie c
Plum Curculio ...

Red-legged Locust
Red Turnip-beetle. ... ........
Root crops and vegetables, insects inj urious

Cee eves ener esave,

SEMOUSULSD cece ee errs (eye Aura hes
Shutt, F. T., report by AMARA hee Oe
Silpha Lopponiea ......:.- wae cdots :
Siphonophora avene... ..
ULMINE: Hee ALselbedis | seen iee ae
Sisymbrium sinapistrum .
LULUSSUNUUTIU Tae tet cites oe eee ay RCE oto
Smith, Dr. J. Bey Manual of Economic
Entomology.
citedi-. 2...
Soapwonrteon ss.
Striped Cucumber Beetle.
sachinaetliansent sane Nasi. e
Tent Caterpillars
Tmetocera ocellana.............
Trombidium locustarum
LT PE LONONLOTELLO TAS sialon loti silk mi cchel etree
Tumbling Mustard
Turnip Flea-beetle
Mwo-striped| Wocust.c. 4.) .es.0h0./ 20k...
Airside Be help arars).5 50/0604 ./- ese tueres
Weeds, some specially MORIOUS* rae ipo
Wheat-stem Saw-fly
Wiilite Grulosiapes or seen ev atria aa!
olan Chisel enya hen dao ae Geese
PALASILESIOLay ee LiO Meine ue is ie bs nee

REPORT

OF THE

ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST.

(James Fiercuer, LL.D., F.R.8.C., F.L.8).

Dr. W. SaunpDeErs,
Director, Dominion Experimental Farms,
Ottawa,

Sir,—I have the honour tu hand you herewith a report on some of the most
important subjects which have been brought ofticially under my notice during the past
season. The correspondence of this division is now very large, which I trust may be -
taken as an indication of the growing appreciation of the utility of the investigations
prosecuted. As heretofore, I have endeavoured to come into direct communication with
my many correspondents in all parts of Canada, so as to benefit as much as possible from
the observations of practical workers and actual eye-witnesses of the different matters
studied. It is of course impossible to treat in the annual report of all the subjects which
engage the attention of the Entomolegist and Botanist during the year; but the many valu-
able data and records of observations in letters from correspondents are all carefully
preservedand classified for future use when the subjects to which they refer are treated of in
full. Included among these are references to various attacks upon crops, of more or less
importance by insects, the study of the life histories of which is as yet incomplete. Asin
previous years, much time has been taken up in distributing information concerning
well known injurious insects and plants. Among the insects which cause much loss
every year and which are now being studied with the view of arriving at better remedies,
the following may be mentioned :—Wireworms, cutworms in grain, the pea moth, the
strawberry leaf-roller, the carrot rust-fly, the ‘“fish-bug” (Sizpha Lapponica, Hbst.),
which attacks codfish on the “flakes” during the process of being cured, root-maggots
of the onion and cabbage and white grubs.

The experiments with grasses and fodder plants of all kinds have been continued
upon the Experimental Farm, and a large number of small samples of seeds have been dis-
tributed to farmers living in all parts of the Dominion for testing. The reports from these
correspondents are of great interest as proving the suitability of some of the valuable
varieties for cultivation over a far wider area in the Dominion than might have been
anticipated. The experimental grass plots on the farm continue to be of vreat interest
to visitors. In these plots may be seen growing nearly all the grasses, clovers and other
fodder plants suitable for cultivation at Ottawa, of which the seeds are to be obtained
from seedsmen as well as a larve number of our native Canadian grasses. Seeds have
also been procured from botanis!s in Australia and in the United States. Among these
mention may be made of an erect variety of barn-yard grass (Panicum Crus-galli) and
two early varieties of Soja beans from Japan received from Prof. W. P. Brooks, of the
Massachusetts Experiment Station.

During the past year many entomologists and botanists in various parts of the
Dominion have availed themselves of the services of the officers of this division in
identifying specimens of insects and plants. A large number of collections have been
received for this purpose. T'rom these collections several valuable additions have been
made to the farm museum. The collections sent in for naming are always returned to
the senders with the names of the specimens, but many species which were found to be
desirable for our herbarium have been kindly presented to us by their owners upon that
fact being made known to them. Through these collections valuable additional infor-
mation is acquired as to the known distribution of our native insects and plants, lists
of the names, localities and dates of all specimens received being carefully kept.

223

224 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

The practical work of the Arboretum and Botanic garden, which was done toa large
measure under my direction until last spring, was then, at my request, handed over to
Mr. W. T. Macoun, the foreman of forestry, who, having men under his control, was in
a better position to look after the necessary labour, such as cultivation, planting, tidying
up, &e., than I was, with only one man, whose time is very fully occupied with the grass
and fodder experiments. In addition to the above reason, Mr. Macoun is specially well
qualified for this work from his natural tastes and knowledge of plants. I had, there-
fore, very much pleasure in recommending to you that this work should be entrusted to
him.

Whenever my official duties would allow of my absence, every opportunity has been
taken of attending farmers’ meetings to deliver addresses on the work of the division and
to meet the farmers. In this way information concerning the work of this division has
been spread to many who might not otherwise have known of its utility. Meetings were
attended at the following places :—

January 7-10—Campbellford, Ont.
do 14~16—Cornwall, Ont.
February 7— 8—Toledo and Newboro’, Ont.
do 10-15—St. Johns and Ormstown, Que.

By instruction of the Hon. Minister of Agriculture, and at the request of the
Manitoba government, I proceeded to Manitoba on 23rd June last, and, in company
with Mr. Hugh McKellar, Chief Clerk of the Provincial Department of Agriculture and
Immigration, or Dr. 8S. J. Thompson, Veterinarian of the same department, I held a
series of twenty meetings in many of the most important wheat growing centres of
Manitoba. The subject treated of at all these meetings was ‘ Noxious Weeds, their
Nature and Habits, and the best Means to adopt for their Eradication.” These meetings
were in every case well attended and very great interest was manifested in the subject,
large numbers of weeds being brought in at every meeting for naming and information.
All arrangements and expenses of these meetings were undertaken by the Provincial
Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. Thomas Greenway, who, by associating with me in
this work the two above named officers of his department, materially increased the value
of the meetings on account of the practical knowledge and long experience of both of
these gentlemen in the methods of culture practised in Manitoba, as well as their tho-
rough acquaintance with the capabilities and physical features of the country.

Acknowledgements.—As in previous years, I am under great obligations to my
friends, Prof. John Macoun and Mr. W. H. Harrington, for frequent assistance in the
identification of difficult plants, insects and other objects of natural history.
To Mr. J. B. Tyrrell, of the Geological Survey Department, I am_ indebted
for the identification of specimens of Arachnide. I also take pleasure in
again gratefully acknowledging the valuable assistance I have received from my
many correspondents in all parts of the Dominion, who have much aided the
work of this division by making observations and by sending me prompt notice of the
occurrence of injurious insects ‘and weeds. My thanks are particularly due to Dr. L. O.
Howard, the United States Entomologist, and his staff for many favours in the identi-
fication of insects, for the use of illustrations and for valuable publications. The
following donations have been received, all of which are most acceptable :—

J. R. Anderson, Esq., Victoria, B.C.—Botanical specimens and living roots of five
species of British Columbian Ribes.

André Bédy, Esq., Quebec.

Rev. W. A. Burman, Winnipeg.—Seeds and specimens of Manitoba weeds.

F.C. Clare, Esq., Edmonton, Alta.—Specimens uf rare plants and insects from the
North-west.

M. G. DeWolfe, Esq., Kentville, N.S.—Living root of Amorphophallus Rivieri.

A. Grant Ferrier, Esq., Sorrento, Florida. —Insects from Florida, he Cue a living
specimen of the whip-tailed scorpion (Thelyphonus giganteus ).

T. W. Ramm, Esq., Ross Mount, Ont.—Specimens of insects, including a beautiful
pair of the {mperial Moth ( Eacles imperialis, Drury) taken in Ontario.

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 225

W. Scott, Esq., Toronto.— Botanical specimens.

Rev. G. W. Taylor, Nanaimo, B.C.—British Columbian plants and insects.
T. N. Willing, Esq., Olds, Alta.—Rare plants and insects from Alberta.
The Director, Bangalore Botanic Garden, India.—Several packets of seeds.

In addition to the above special mention should be made of a consignment of
specimens of the Apricot scale, Lecaniwm Armeniacum, infested by its parasite, Comys
fusca, Howard. ‘These were sent by Mr. E. M. Ehrhorn, of Mountain View, California,
with the hope that they might prove useful in controlling the New York Plum-scale, a
species similar to the Apricot scale. Part of these specimens were allowed to escape in
an elm tree at Ottawa badly infested by another Lecanium very similar to the two
above mentioned, and part were sent to Mr. L. A. Woolverton, Secretary of the Fruit
Growers’ Association of Ontario, to be liberated at Grimsby where the New York Plum-
scale was known to exist.

The most important addition to the museum was in the shape of an exchange from
the Government of New South Wales, through the Curator of the Technological Museum
ab Sydney, and consists of a large collection of named botanical and entomological
specimens from that colony.

In conclusion, I beg again to acknowledge the great help I have received in all
branches of my work from my assistant, Mr. J. A. Guignard, B.A., who has done a great
deal to render this division what I trust and confidently hope that it is—a useful branch
of the public service.

I have the honour to be, sir,

Your obedient servant,

JAMES FLETCHER,
Entomologist and Botanist.
Orrawa, 3lst December, 1896. :

8c—15

226 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

CHREALS.

There was not during the past summer any widespread or very serious injury
to grain crops by insect enemies. Notwithstanding that in the province of Ontario
large areas of fall wheat were ploughed down as being ‘“‘winter-killed,” the crup proved
of good quality and an average yield. It is highly probable, from the reports that have
since come in from the districts where this winter killing prevailed, that some of the loss,
at any rate, was due to the attacks of the
Hesstan Fry (Cecidomyza destructor, Say ), Fig.
1. Actual reports mention this insect only in
Prince Edward Island and the western part of-
Ontario. In this latter section, however, there
is decided evidence that the Hessian fly is in-
creasing, and it is well for farmers to recognize
this and adopt the weil known methods for.
preventing its injury. In October last Prof. J.
H. Panton, of the Ontario Agricultural College
and Director of the Committee on Economic
Botany and Entomology of the Ontario Agri-
cultural and Experimental Union, sent out a
list of questions to some of the most prominent
farmers in Ontario. One of these questions
was: ‘What are the six worst insects in your
locality!” And another: “What new insects
are likely to be injurious!” In an interesting
summary of the replies to these questions,
written by Mr. T. F. Paterson for the Montre:l
Family Herald of December 15, 1896, it
appears that “ forty-three different insects were
enumerated. The following list will give a fair
estimate as to which are most injurious to the
farmer at the present time. The eight worst
ones have been selected, as, from the reports, they seem to greatly exceed the others in
numbers and injurious effects:—1. Colorado potato beetle, 39. 2. Grasshoppers, 32.
3. Horn-fly, 25. 4. Cutworms, 18. 5. Tent caterpillars, 15. 6. Army-worm, 13. 7.
Cabbage worm, 11. 8. Hessian fly, 10.” From the above, it is also clear that the Hes-
sian fly is recognized as the cause of considerab'e loss in the year 1896, and in the
answers to the question as to what insects are likely to prove troublesome in the future
it is the fifth of twenty-three kinds mentioned, and the Wheat Midge is the sixth. The
following letters are from Ontario :—

“Pinehurst, Kent Co., Ont., 29th June.—In this county the Hessian fly is doing a
great deal of damage to the wheat crop; in fact, many fields are ruined, and, unless
something can be done to protect the wheat, we think it a great risk to sow any this
fall.” —J. T. O'KEEFE.

“Delaware, Middlesex Co., Ont., 2nd Nov.—I am told that the prospects for fall
wheat are not good in this neighbourhood, owing to the attack of the larve of Hessian
fly."—J. DEARNEsS.

“Verdun, Huron Co., Ont., 1st Dec.—Referring to previous correspondence, I am
beginning to think that the Hessian fly may be blamable for the injury to my fall wheat
this autumn; and, if so, there is every year here much loss from it. Much complaint
was made last spring of fall wheat being killed off after it had apparently come through
the winter all right, and I am now inclined to think, since communicating with you, that
the Hessian fly was the cause of this loss also. The condition referred to extended over

Fig. 1.—Barley stem attacked byHessian fly.
2, Showing flax-seed-like puparia.

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 227

all this township, and this fall much of the very early sowing (in August) is noticeably
yellow in places. I have, however, examined a few fields, but did not find sufficient
pup of the Hessian fly as would, I think, account for the whole of it. As to the
extent of the damage to the wheat crop, six weeks ago as much as one-third apparently
was injured, but this is not so noticeable now, owing to the killed plants having withered
and the healthy ones covering the ground.”—-Wm. WELSH.

The life history of the Hessian fly is well known, but fortunately this insect has
not for some years required particular attention except in restricted localities. Its
work is generally recognized in the spring of the year by dead plants in wheat fields.
Upon examining these, the characteristic pup, resembling small flax seeds, may be
found in the crowns of the young plants ; sometimes three or four specimens will occur
beneath the leaf sheaths of a single plant. In summer time the same flax-seed-like
puparia (Fig. 1) may be found above the first or second joint of the stems of barley, rye
and wheat, where they lie beneath the sheath of the leaf, but outside the stem; the
larvee suck the sap of the stems and so weaken them that they frequently fall down.
The perfect insect is a tiny blackish midge with smoky wings, expanding only a quarter
of an inch from tip to tip, which appears in April and May and again in August, lasting
until about the middle of September. The females lay their minute scarlet eggs upon
the inside crease of the leaves, and the young maggots, upon hatching, work their way
down to the axils of the leaves where the injury to the plant is done.

Remedies.—The remedies for the Hessian fly are as follows: 1. Late sowing.
The postponement of seeding until after the third week in September has the effect of
delaying the appearance of the young wheat plants above the ground until all the
Hessian flies of the secund brood are dead.

2. Burning refuse. As a large proportion of the “ flax seeds” are carried with the
grain and at threshing are thrown down beneath the machine among the rubbish and
broken straw, it is of great importance to destroy all rubbish, tailings or fine screenings
wherever grain is known to be infested.

3. Treatment of stubbles. As soon as the crop is cut, it is an excellent plan to run
a harrow over the fields so as to start a volunteer crop from the grains which have
dropped in harvesting. By the time the fields are ploughed, many flies of the August brood
will have emerged and laid their eggs on these plants; these will thus be destroyed at the
same time as many seedlings of noxious weeds. If fields are conveniently situated away
from barns, houses and stacks, much good may be done by burning over the stubbles
before ploughing, as the pupz occur, as a rule, at the first or second joint of the stem.
To facilitate the operation of burning, a little dry straw may be scattered lightly over
the stubble. It is, perhaps, hardly necessary to say that neither wheat, barley nor rye
should be sown again in fields where a crop has been infested the year previous.

The Joint-worm (lsosoma hordei, Harris).—In my last report 1 made mention of
the occurrence in injurious numbers of a joint-worm in wheat fields at Meaford, Grey
Co., Ont. My correspondent, Mr. Thomas Harris, who rerorted his observations last
year, writes that there has been no recurrence of this attack during the past summer on
his own fields, nor has he heard of any upon the crops of his neighbours.

The Grain PLaNt-LousE (Siphonophora avene, Fab.)—As usual, this plant-louse has
occurred to some extent in all parts of the Dominion, but only two reports state that
actual injury has been done to grain. That the insects were exceptionally abundant is
shown by the following :

“ Princeton, Brant Co., Ont., July 24.—In this part of the province we have begun
to cut our oats, and these insects abound to an enormous extent. They literally cover
the table of the binder. One farmer told me to-day that they piled up four or five
inches deep under the knotter of his machine. I am sure I do not exaggerate when I
say it would not be hard to sweep a good shovelful off a binder after cutting a field of
oats.” —J. E. RicHarpson. ’

“Shakespeare, Oxford Co., Ont., July 27.—I send you some small insects.
There are millions of them on my oats. I do not recollect having seen anything like it
before.”-_J. W. Dona.pson.

8c—15$

228 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

“Doe Lake, Muskoka, Ont., August 18.—The wheat is very much shrunk
here. This was not from rust, as the straw was bright, but the heads while green were
covered with lice.” —F. C. Jupp.

No special treatment can be recommended for the grain plant-louse, nor, as a rule,
is any remedy necessary, for the natural parasites suffice to keep it in check.

The AmpuTaTiING BrocaDE motu (Hadena arctica, Boisd.).—In the summer of 1895,
the moths of this species were so abundant in some parts of Western Ontario as to
attract the attention of many people, and complaints were received of their swarming
into houses where they gave annoyance by soiling clothes and curtains and also by dying
in large numbers in shop windows. As might have been expected, the caterpillars were
last summer destructive in the same districts to wheat, oats, corn, &., complaints coming
in from the counties of Middlesex, Grey and Carleton. Writing from Granton, Mid-
dlesex Co., Ont., Mr. J. Dearness, President of the Entomological Society of Ontario, on
15th of May, says :—‘‘ I am sending you herewith samples of a cutworm that in
innumerable force is ravaging spring crops sown on sod. The drili rows are followed,
and every blade of grass is cut off, leaving large areas of the field perfectly bare. In
this neighbourhood last year,—and from reports, I judge it was pretty general through
this part of Ontario,—the Amputating Brocade moth was very troublesome, filling lamps.
soiling clothes and pestiferous in other ways. JI inclose one of these moths. Is it the
same species as the cutworm sent ?”

Reply :—‘“The cutworm and moth sent are both the same species. I am sorry
to say that the only measure I can suggest by which infested fields can be turned
to good use this year, is to plough up the portions worst affected and plant some
crop which can be put in as late as possible, so as to give the caterpillars time
to mature before the crop appears. It would be better to use some other crop
than a plant belonging to the grass family. As far as my own observation goes, L/.
arctica teeds on grasses, although there are many records of the caterpillars feeding on
other plants, such as root crops and even orchard trees; but I have never seen this.
They are large whitish cutworms nearly two inches long, with bright chestnut red heads,
which exist a long time in the larval form, continuing their ravages almost to the middle
of June. They have every appearance of caterpillars which feed normally beneath the
surface of the soil.”

Serious injury to corn fields, which was probably by the same species, was reported
by Dr. T. Sproule, M.P., as occurring in the county of Grey.

The Pea Mors (Semasia sp.) has again this year attracted a good deal of attention
by the extent of its injuries. Many of the accounts differ somewhat on important parti-
culars, and it is much to be regretted that, so far, all efforts to breed the perfect insect
have failed, so that the exact identity of the moth cannot as yet be given. The
following interesting letter adds to our knowledge of its life history :—

“Clifton, King’s Co., N.B., February 24.—1 have been greatly interested in your
report on the Pea Moth. This insect is very destructive here, especially late in the
season. Late pease are so damaged by it that they are quite unfit for use as seed unless.
hand picked. Indeed I have had about all my late seed repeatedly destroyed. Last
season, the late garden pease when picked and being prepared for the table were found
to be so affected as to be unfit for market, fully three-quarters of them being destroyed
by the worm. Late varieties of pease such as Stratagem were so injured that it was
almost impossible to get any that were fit for seed.

“The pea pod is always attacked at the upper end first, and, when the pease are badly
eaten up a quantity of granular excrement and silken threads unites the whole. The
pods on the under side of vines lying on the ground seem to be most badly affected, and
the damage is greater on ground planted in pease the year before, in garden plots, in
damp positions and when the weather has been damp.

“I notice in your report: that Mr. Cowdry says he found caterpillars only in pods.

quite matured. I have repeatedly found them in very young pods, tog young for table
use.

REPORT OF THE ENIOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 223

“This pest has existed here at least forty years, and I can see no appreciable increase
or decrease. It causes considerable loss in this vicinity, but so far no remedy seems to
be generally applicable. Possibly deep ploughing might do much, or burning the stems
in garden plots.”—J. E. Wrermore.

THE WHEAT-STEM SAW-FLY.
(Cephus pygmaeus, L.)

Attack.—Slender, white grubs. Head rounded, yellowish, with the mandibles dark-
ened. Body swollen at the first two joints after the head and tapering very slightly to
the end, which is terminated by a short, blunt tubercle with a darkened and hardened
tip. This Monsieur Herpin describes as a tubular appendage, which is capable of being
protruded like a telescope, and assists the insect in its progress within the tube of the
straw. Beneath the first three segments of the body are three pairs of rudimentary
thoracic feet. These larve are found inside stems of wheat. When full-grown they are
nearly half an inch in length and have by that time bored through all or most of the
knots in the stem, leaving a discoloured tunnel extending from the top joint down to
the root, where, when mature, they spin thin transparent cocoons in which they pass the
winter and change to pupe the following summer. :

In November, 1889, Prof. Comstock published a bulletin (Cornell Univ. Coll. of Agr.,
Bull. 11.) “On a Saw-fly Borer in Wheat,” in which he gives a full account of a remark-
able outbreak of Cephus pygmceus orf the Cornell University farm, when nearly five per
cent of the wheat in a field was infested. In the Canadian Entomologist for 1890,
page 40, Mr. W. Hague Harrington records that in 1887 he took a specimen of this
insect at Ottawa, and that he had received specimens taken at Buffalo, N.Y., in the
middle of June, 1888, and again at the same place and season the following year. With
the exception of these records, I have been unable to find any mention of specimens being
_taken in America. On the 5th July, 1895, at Indian Head, N.W.T., I collected
specimens of the perfect insect by sweeping the flowers of the Tumbling Mustard which
grew in the greatest abundance just outside the Experimental Farm. At that time no
injury by the larve was noticeable on the wheat growing in the district, nor has any
report of injury attributable to it been received since from that district; but on the
6th of August last Mr. John Wenman, of Souris, Man., sent 2 packet of wheat stems
containing nearly full grown larve which answered in every particular to those of
Cephus pygmeus. Mr. Wenman was written to for full particulars of the occurrence,
and the following letter was received :—

“Souris, Man., Sept. 2.—In reply to your favour of the 12th ultimo, I beg to inform
you that I have looked several times for more specimens of the injured stems of wheat,
but the field which was most visibly affected had been cut the day before your letter
came, and I could not secure good specimens. You ask how it was that I noticed the
injury. I observed that some straws were lying down or lodged here and there, and, up-
on examining these stems, I found in nearly every instance that the straw was discoloured
and broken between the first and second joints. We had had hail a day or two before.
On following up inside the affected stems, I found in most cases the grub which you saw
in the sample sent, about half an inch long, head brownish and body cream-coloured. In
one case I found the grub had worked through all the joints up to the head of grain. I
looked for this pest in several of my neighbours’ fields. I saw a little in one field. The
damage resulting from this attack, however, is so far, I am sure, not appreciable, but
precautions must, of course, be taken, and I shall be on the qui vive for any further
Visitation.”

The specimens of straw sent by Mr. Wenman contained larve which were nearly or
quite full-grown on the 12th of August, but only a small proportion of these stems had
been tunnelled up to the top joint. The larvee were some distance above the root, but
judging from the state of maturity of the straw, they would have descended very soon
to the root to form the cocoons in which they pass the winter.

230 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

There is, however, a marked difference in the season of the Manitoban specimens
and that of those studied by Prof. Comstock at Ithaca, N.Y., which were in general
terms just about one month earlier. By the 19th of July, 1889, all the larve examined
at Ithaca had descended to the lowest joint, while in Manitoba this year, nearly a month
later in the season, some of the larve were not full-grown until about the 13th of August.
_ Specimens of the mature insect were flying at Indian Head on the 5th of July, 1895, and
it would take from a month to six weeks before the larve from eggs laid by these reached
full growth, which would occur about the same time as the ripening of the wheat, when
naturally the straws would dry up and become unfit for food.

Several European writers have treated of this insect and its habits. Probably the
best known account is that of John Curtis in his celebrated work Harm Insects (1860).
This account includes the observations of Herpin and other French authors. The most
complete study of the insect is that by Prof. Comstock presented in the bulletin above
referred to.

A summary of the life history of the Wheat-stem Saw-fly is as follows :—

The eggs are laid inside the wheat stem just before the ears appear above the sheath,
being inserted into the hollow of the stem through a minute hole cut by the female with
its saw-like ovipositor. The egg hatches in a few days, and the young larva grows
rapidly and attains full growth before the straw ripens and hardens, by which time it
will have eaten its way from the topmost joint of the stem to the lowest, feeding chiefly

on the substance of the knots, but also on the inside tissues
of the straw. About the time the grain ripens, it descends to the
bottom joint, and, just above the surface of the ground, gnaws
away the inside substance of the straw so as to cut a ring
almost, but not quite, through to the outside. (Fig. 2.) This is to
enable the perfect fly to emerge easily in spring. It then
spins a thin, delicate cocoon; and, like the larve of most saw-
flies, remains torpid until the following spring, when it turns to a
pupa only a few days before transforming into the perfect fly. The
date of appearance of the perfect insect evidently varies with the
season and locality. The adult is a shining black four-winged fly,
banded and spotted with yellow, with the abdomen slightly com-
pressed. The head is large, with prominent eyes, and there are also
three ocelli or minute simple eyes near the summit of the head. The
antenne are slightly club-shaped and composed of about twenty
segments. The female is rather larger than the male and less orna-
mented with yellow. The average length is about one-third of an
inch (male, 8 mm.; female, 10 mm.). This insect is interesting

‘ig. 2.—Bas b : : : ore :
mec are OW hone scientifically, as it must be classified between the true Saw-flies

Saw-fly: a, cocoon; (Zenthredinide) and the Horn-tails (Uroceride), so-called from the

b, plug of borings; “ii .
aeenin eans at fact that the larva bear a sharp horn-like appendage at the end of

scattered borings. the body.

(Figure kindly lent It is evident from an examination of the different stages, that it
8 ee J. H.Com- is more nearly related to the Horn-tails. The Wheat-stem Saw-fly is

a native of most of the countries of Kurope, and in’ some years, par-
ticularly in France, it has been the cause of much loss. Miss Eleanor A. Ormerod
speaks of it in many of her invaluable reports, and shows that while it occurs in notice-
able numbers every year, it is only occasionally a serious enemy to the wheat grower.

The question of the introduction of this European insect into America is one of
some interest to entomologists, and it seems difficult to understand how it could have
taken place. It has been suggested, however, by Prof. Comstock, who found a few
cocoons in the straw above the point where it would have been cut by a reaper, that “a
small proportion of the insects are probably removed from the wheat fields in the straw
and, consequently, there is danger of the spreading of the species in this way. It is pro-
bable that the insect was introduced into this country in straw used in packing, and it
may be further distributed here in the same way.” (Bull. No. 11, p. 141).

.

or

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTA NIST. 231

It is, of course, possible that the insect may have been introduced in this way and
although recorded only from the above mentioned widely separated localities, from the
inconspicuous nature of the injury, it is extremely likely that it has been overlooked in
many places where it occurs. It has not yet been found feeding in any other member
of the grass family than wheat and rye. With regard to its occurrence at Ithaca, N.Y.,
Mr. Slingerland writes under date 28th December, 1896 :—‘‘ Cephus pygmaeus has not
attracted noticeable attention here in our locality, nor in our State, as far as I know,
since Prof. Comstock discussed it in Bulletin 11. I do not know that it occurs in any
other State, although it is suspected that it occurs in Ohio and West Virginia.”

Remedies.—As nearly all the larve pass the winter in the base of the straw, it is
quite evident that the most practical remedy will be found in treating the stubble, so as
to destroy them or the pup before the flies emerge: This may be done either by
ploughing deeply after harvest, or by burning over, which for another reason also will
certainly be a most useful practice in Manitoba, for in that province, on account of the
usual plan of growing wheat for several successive seasons on the same land, some bad
weeds have increased enormously. The burning over of stubbles in autumn will cer-
tainly destroy vast numbers of these and their seeds, as well as at the same time the
larve of the Wheat-stem Saw-fly. In Manitoba a great deal more straw is produced
every year by farmers than they can possibly feed or use otherwise, and as a consequence,
as soon as the farmer knows how much he will require, the residue, a large amount, is
burnt every spring, simply to get it out of the way. Should the Wheat-stem Saw-fly
ever increase sufficiently to affect the yield appreciably, the burning in autumn of the
straw not needed would undoubtedly be a wise practice, as it is known that a few of the
cocoons, at any rate, are formed in the straw.

THE ARMY-WORM.
(Leucania unipuncta, Haw. )

Attack.—Brown, or sometimes blackish, striped caterpillars (Fig.
q 3), eating the leaves and stripping the stems of grasses and many
ffl other low plants. When attacking cereals, frequently cutting off the
\\/|] heads. When full-grown, over an inch and a half in length, and
'| when occurring in large numbers, migrating in bodies from one food
patch to another, On reaching full growth, the caterpillars burrow
into the ground and turn to light brown chrysalids, from which in
about two or three weeks the moths emerge.

These (Fig. 4) are of a warmg
satiny-brown colour sprinkled with
minute black specks, and with a
small but distinct white spot in the
middle of each upper wing. They

iif are very active. When the wingsyp
Hip othe Army- are closed, the moth measures about Q
warn. an inch in length.

The life history of the Army-worm in Canada is
as follows: There are two broods in the year. Eggs aré
laid in autumn and hatch in ten or twelve days. After
feeding for a short time, the small caterpillars, like
many of the cutworms, become torpid and pass the
winter beneath tufts of grass and other low herbage.

: x ‘ ig. 4.—Ch lis, moth and eggs f
In the following spring they complete their growth, ce ihe Ee rie

feeding on the young grass and grain crops, and produce the moths in June. These lay
eggs for the second brood, which is usually much the more numerous and destructive.
By the latter part of July, in this part of Canada, the young caterpillars are large
enough, when abundant, to attract attention by their depredations. They are full-
grown by about the first week in August, when, burrowing an inch or two into the

932 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

ground, they change to chrysalids and emerge as perfect moths towards the end of the
month.

It has been noticed by many observers that Army-worms are frequently destructive
in seasons following years of unusual drought and that they are seldom abundant in the
same place for two successive years. In 1895 collectors of insects were struck by the
number of Army-worm moths which flew into houses or were seen in several parts of
Ontario. From this it was feared that there might be trouble from Army-worms during
the present year. This turned out to be the case, forin July and August reports of
serious injury were received from almost every part of the province, from Russell county
in the extreme east to Essex in the extreme west, and from Welland to Algoma district.
The loss was greatest, according to the Ontario Crop Report for August 13, 1896, in
Essex, Kent, Haldimand, Welland, Lambton, Huron and Wellington. Nor was loss
from the Army-worm confined to Canada, but considerable harm was done in some of
the Northern United States. In the Massachusetts Crop Report for July, 1896, a good
article on this subject appears by Mr. A. H. Kirkland, and at the last meeting of the
Association of Economic Entomologists held at Buffalo in August, 1896, injuries by
Army-worms were mentioned by other entomologists.

The Army-worm feeds, under ordinary conditions, upon various members of the
grass family, having apparently a special preference for oats and timothy, but it also
occasionally injures seriously rye, barley, wheat and many grasses, as well as, when such
food is scarce, pease, beans, lettuce and other vegetables. Mr. Kirkland records that the
loss in the Massachusetts cranberry swamps from Army-worms was very considerable
this year. He also made some interesting observations on the periods of occurrence of
the different broods and found that this year there were three broods in Massachusetts.
As stated above, we have only two broods in Canada, but according to Dr. L. O.
Howard, there may be as many as five or six broods in the south. In the Ontario Crop
Report referred to above, is given a long list of extracts from correspondents in all parts
of Ontario. The following from some of my correspondents give interesting information on
the subject. Those extracts which bear upon the unusual abundance of the moths again
this year are of exceptional interest, and in Mr. Metcalfe’s experience at Port Hope in
catching a large number of the mature moths, we may have the suggestion of a remedy
which it would pay to practise on a larger scale when the moths are noticed to be
unusually abundant. Of course, when this is the case, not only should the moths be
captured as much as possible, but infested lands, whenever possible, should be burnt .
over in the autumn or early spring and a keen lookout should be kept the following
year for the first appearance of the Army-worms, so that the well-known remedies may
be applied.

“ Marshville, Monk Co., Ont., July 3.—You will find inclosed some most voracious
insects which are in my rye in innumerable numbers; they have nearly destroyed it and are
now moving on tomy corn. What are they? How long will they live? What can be
done for them? They seem to have been bred in my fall grain. Are they confined to
it ? They have eaten the timothy (small) out of my rye, and have left the clover as yet,
but I am sure they will eat it when hungry. Please give me as early an answer as
possible.”—J. E. Reamty.

“Humberstone, Welland Co., Ont., July 9.—I write in relation to a pest which
appeared suddenly in this district one week ago, about the 2nd inst., the Army-worm.
This place is a village on the Welland Canal, one mile north of Port Colborne and Lake
Erie. About a mile below this place, and extending two or three miles, is a tract of low
land, the soil being a black loam. It was in this tract of land, on the farm of James
Phillips, two miles north of this place, that the Army-worms were first noticed in
countless numbers destroying principally oats and corn. In the oats, these worms first
take the leaves, then the head, afterwards the stalk. Some farmers are applying Paris
green to their corn crop. Is that safeor desirable? What is it advisable to do, in order
to prevent their destroying the oat crop? Can anything be done to prevent their
entering any field? The worms are of various sizes, from half an inch to one inch and
a half in length, and are of a dark colour. All the information the farmers can give in
relation to their origin is that on the night of the lst of July there had been a slight

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 233

frost and when they examined their crops the next morning they found countless num-
bers of these worms in their oats and corn. They come in such numbers that they make
a clean sweep of all before them, and unless some way can be found to check their
ravages the damage they will do will be exceedingly great. The most of the destruct.on,
so far, has been in the tract of low land referred to. We are anxious to hear from you
as soon as possible.” OC, E. Tuompson. ;

“‘ Diamond, Carleton Co., Ont., December 8.—I received your letter and report re
the Army-worm, and thank you most sincerely for the promptness with which you
answered my inquiries. I followed your directions, rolling and ploughing, and found
that it destroyed them greatly. I used a three section roller, and where tue ground was
level it did good work. Where the surface was rough I ploughed three trenches and in
the third I sank holes, as you described, and there did not half a dozen succeed in
crossing. It was pasture land, and they were heading for the grain, but never reached
it, so that Iam unable to say anything with regard to fighting them in the grain. They
did considerable damage in some parts of this township, Fitzroy, in the grain.”—Joun
GREENE. )

“ Jermyn, Peterboro’ Co., Ont., August 10.—I send some moths which came into
our house last night in thousands.”—-SaMUEL ARMSTRONG,

“Toronto, August 18.—The Army-worm moth (ZL. wnipuncta) has been very
numerous this fall, literally swarming everywhere during the first three weeks in
August.”—-Jas. H. McDunnovueu.

* Port Hope, Durham Co., Ont., August 11.—Several large honeysuckles are grow-
ing in my garden covered with berries which attract hundreds of Army-worm moths
at night.”—Rey. C. J. 8. Beruone.

“ Port Hope, Durham, Co., Ont., Nov. 11.—I have been doing some collecting this
fall that may be of economic value, viz., the collecting of over six hundyed Army-worm
moths, mostly females, at sugar. Would not killing the moths thus attracted be a very
effective way of fighting them !

“ While collecting larve last spring, the Army-worm did not appear as common as
usual, and so I was surprised at the large numbers of the moths that were flying about
the first week in June. They swarmed on the under side of pine branches and hovered
about the bloom of the barberry in small clouds. No armies appeared in my immediate
vicinity, the larve not being in such numbers as to get ahead of the supply of their
natural food. They fed on Quack Grass (Agropyrum), Fox-tail (Setaria) and Wild
Buckwheat. After the pease were pulled, the caterpillars sheltered under the bundles
and I had a good opportunity to examine them. The bulk were plentifully dotted with
the eggs of a Tachina fly. Those very useful beetles, Calosoma calidwm and Harpalus
caliginosus, were busily feasting on them. These beetles were innumerable, and, when
the wind changed after a land breeze, would be washed up on the lake shore in bucketfuls.

“ About August 10, I commenced sugaring ; the bait was smeared on the supports
of an open shed facing the north, this, of course, being an unfavourable position, but,
notwithstanding, the moths came readily to the sugar. The largest catch was made on
the evening of August 17, when I took over a hundred before nine o’clock. Over six
hundred were taken before August 25. The mixture used was made by dissolving
sugar in hot water and adding enough rum to give an attractive odour.”

“Port Hope, Ont., Dec. 1.—Many of our common beetles are washed up in great
numbers on the shores of the lake here, at Toronto and at Grimsby, as well as members
of the other orders. After a north wind of one or two days’ duration the wind usually
shifts till it blows from a southerly direction, and then is the time for a harvest of
beetles on the lake shore here. While at Grimsby (on the other side of the lake) in the
summer of 18'/4, on only two or three occasions did the wind blow on shore, the balance
of the time it blew almost continuously from the south. I found many good things on
the rare occasions of a north wind.”—-W. Merca.re.

Remedies.+Under this head I have nothing to add to what appeared in my annual
report for 1894 as follows :—

“ Although only occurring occasionally in excessive numbers, and then in but few
localities, this moth is very widely distributed in Canada, and may generally he found

234 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

in most parts in low lands where the caterpillars have suitable conditions for growth
and an abundance of food. It has also been observed that the Army-worm is most
abundant in wet seasons following a dry autumn, the damp weather giving them the
same conditions over a large area as they would find in their own special habitat, viz.,
low, swampy, and grassy places.

“When the caterpillars appear only in moderate numbers, they have an abundant
food supply, and do not then acquire the habit of ‘marching,’ which is merely moving
from one place where all the food has been devoured, to a fresh pasture. When, how-
ever, their occurrence is excessive, they must of, necessity move on to some other place
or starve. They may be prevented fron marching from one field to another by plough-
ing a deep furrow across their path, This should be cleared out so as to leave the edge
nearest to the field to be protected, perpendicular or slightly overhanging. Along the
trench sco formed, pits must be dug about 12 feet apart. When the caterpillars come
to the trench, they are unable to climb up the opposite side, and after a f-w trials,
walk along until they fall into the pits, when they may be destroyed by covering them
with earth and tramping it down, or, as Prof. Lugger, of Minnesota, suggests, ‘with a
liberal dose of kerosene oi] and water. Even a shallow ditch will answer this purpose
if the earth is made friable enough to keep the worms from ascending. If a log is
dragged continually through such a ditch, nearly all the worms collected there are
either killed or maimed.’

“Tf pits are not dug, when the caterpillars occur in large numbers, the trench will
soon be filled, and they will walk over on the bodies of their fellows. In case any of
the worms succeed in crossing the ditch, a narrow strip of the plants on the opposi'e
side of the trench should be dusted or sprinkled with a strong mixture of Paris green
diluted either with 25 times its weight of flour, ashes or land plaster, or mixed with
water as strong as one ounce to a pailful of water.

“When an attack has been very severe in any locality, much good may be done by
burning the old grass and stubble in autumn or spring ; in this way, many of the young
larve are destroyed, as well as the old stems, which it seems are the favourite place for
the spring brood of moths to lay their eggs upon.

* An encouraging feature in connection with an invasion by the Army-worm, is the
fact that it is extremely rare for the insects to appear in large numbers two years run-
ning in the same place. This is due to the fact that they are almost invariably attended
by parasitic foes, which destroy them so effectually that the occurrence of two consecutive
‘ Army-worm years’ in the same locality is almost unknown.”

HODDER -CROPS.

The injuries to fodder crops during the summer of 1896 were chiefly by the Army-
worm and Grasshoppers. Occasional mention was made of the work of the Clover Seed
Midge, which, however, is found to be far wider-spread over the Dominion than is indi-
cated by reports, because this insect is mentioned only by correspondents in the seed-
growing districts. Undoubtedly much clover was killed out by the droughts of 1895 and
1896 and by the severe cold of December, 1895, and January, 1896, which came when
there was no snow on the ground. The work of the Clover-root Borer (Hylesinus
trifolat, Miller) was reported by Mr. R. A. Harvey, of Laskay, York Co., Ont.

Wuite Gruss, the larve of the different species of June beetles (Lachnosterna),
have been reported as injuring meadow lands and lawns. The good work of robins and
high-holders (golden-winged woodpeckers) in destroying the grubs on an infested lawn is
mentioned by Mr. J. F. McDonald, barrister, of Dunnville, Ont. Another instance invol-
ving considerable injury was on the land of Mr. Caius M. C. Hubble, of Sand Hill, Ont.,
who writes :—“ I dug up these grubs all the season among potatoes, carrots, corn and
turnips ; but they are most numerous in the carrots. The last I found was on November

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 235

6. They were in the same condition as those I dug up in the summer. There area
number of tall poplars bordering my garden which, no doubt, were the cause of my
having such a number of these grubs. For a piece of ground adjoining mine, where
there are only three or four apple trees near it, had very few. About one-tenth of my
ground where I had white carrots was badly infested, but I found them scattered among
other crops. It is a very unusual occurrence for them to be so abundant here.”

Corrony Grass-scaLE (Zriopeltis festuce, Fonsc.).—There has been little reference
during the past summer to this insect, treated of in my last report. Mr. D. G. Craw-
ford, of Sydney Mines, C.B., N.S., says :—‘‘ I noted that the egg-sacs began to be formed
about 21st July, and they were not nearly so numerous as last year, but appeared in
other localities to a limited extent. I believe they will disappear in a year or two.”

GrAssHOPPERS.—The three species of grasshoppers which have this year committed
depredations on fodder and grain crops throughout the Dominion, are the same as were
injurious last year, namely, the Common Red-legged Locust (d/elanoplus femur-rubrum,
DeG.), the Lesser Migratory Locust (M/. atlanis, Riley) and the Two-striped Locust
(Mf. bwitiatus, Say). These were reported as very abundant in some parts of Ontario
and Quebec early in the season. In the Ontario Crop Report for August 13th,
there is frequent mention of their attacks upon spring and fall wheat, barley, corn,
pastures, and even on hops.

Locusts are generally spoken of by correspondents as
Grasshoppers, and I cannot see the least objection to
using the words ‘‘ Grasshopper ” and “ Locust ” indiscrim-

oe inately, for although entomologists claim that the word
Fig. 5.—A Locust. “Locust” is the more accurate name for those species
with short antenne (the Acridiid), the name “Grasshopper” is so universally used and
understood for these insects by the public in general that it is certainly wise to recog-
nize this word, at any rate, in these reports prepared especially for farmers or those
who, with very few exceptions, are not entomologists. Particularly is this the case as it
seems difficult to understand why the word “Grasshopper” should be restricted to the
Locustide, or long-horned grasshoppers, while the word “ Locust,” which we might
naturally suppose would most aptly apply to the Locustide, should be considered the
accurate popular name for the Acridiidx, or short-horned species. Possibly, it may
have been because the plague of locusts mentioned in the Bible was known to have con-
sisted of a short-horned species, and the application of the word for that reason has
become so well known as applied to those forms with short antennz that, to some, it has
seemed unwise to change it.

The correspondence during the past season, concerning grasshoppers, their injuries
and their enemies, is too extensive for us to give more than a few extracts.

“St. Lin, L’Assomption Co., Que., June 7.—Please tell me the best and most
economical plan for destroying grasshoppers. They threaten to destroy the whole
crop.”—J. P. ARCHAMBAULT, Secretary of Agricultural Circle.

“ Mastai, Quebec Co., Que., August 19.—Grasshoppers eating up cabbages.”—H.
F. Hunt.

“ Port Elgin, Bruce Co., Ont., June 16.—During the past few weeks there has
been a plague of grasshoppers in this vicinity. They follow the roadsides, eating the
grass so closely that it has the appearance of being singed by fire. At intervals they
enter the fields, starting at one point and sweep everything clean before them, such as
oats, hay and pasture,—pease, so far, being the only exception. In the evening they gather
in countless numbers on the fences of the field they intend to devour, and actually eat
into the rail-posts and boards, staying there until the warmth of the day comes, when
they again begin their work of destruction. Is there a remedy to stop this fearful
plague and save the crops? Could they be scattered when they commence their inroads
on a field, or destroyed on the fences at night ?”

“June 26.—Fields have been destroyed by grasshoppers. Pastures are singed as
if by fire, and the cutting of oats and fall wheat in the green state has begun in some
places. A small red insect is to be found under their wings, which is destroying some

236 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

of them, but there are many young hoppers coming in their place. If the pre-
sent state of things continues much longer, there will be very little of anything left. I
fear it is now almost too late to try the hopper-dozer, as the grasshoppers can fly well.
Of all the pests this is the worst we have ever seen.”—-A. BEATON.

“ Ashgrove, Halton Co., Ont., Sept. 14.—Grasshoppers this year were very numer-
ous In some sections, but were not 0 general over the country as I have seen them. In
some parts that were stony they appeared at one time as if they would take everything.
They were particularly destructive on grass, spring wheat, oats and turnips.” —GrORGE
Harpy.

‘Osnabruck Centre, Stormont Co., Ont., Nov. 23.—The worst pests we had to
contend with in this section were grasshoppers and Colorado Potato-beetles. With regard
to the grasshoppers, they were very bad for a while, but disappeared from this part, as
far as I can remember, about August Ist. They were particularly destructive to grain
fields adjoining pastures or grass lands.”—-A. 8. Hoperns.

Remedy.—When locusts appear in enormous numbers, they frequently become a
serious scourge to the agriculturist. The most efficient remedial measure which can be
adopted is the use of the hopper-dozer, which has been described in previous reports.
In the case of restricted swarms, much good may be done by the use of poisonous
mixtures. As an instance, I cite the following experience :—

“Princeton, Brant Co., Ont., June 93.—1 am trying to get rid of the locusts by
mixing bran, Paris green and molasses together and putting it in heaps in different
parts of a field. Cun you recommend any better way of exterminating them? They
are doing considerable damage to my crops already.

“July 7.—As to the result of the mixture I used, viz., bran, Paris green and molasses,
I applied it in a similar way to that in which the mixture you mentioned in your letter was
applied. I put it around six acresof beans which the locusts were destroying as fast as they
could. . In the next field I had another six acres of beans which were sown a week later.
After putting the mixture on the first field the locusts did no further damage to that piece,
but started at the beans in the next field. Noticing this, I put the mixture round the
second field and they did no further damage to either piece afterwards. I noticed
several dead around the heaps and suppose several hopped away to the fences and died
there. Whether the poison stopped them eating the beans or whether the beans got too
tough for them, I cannotsay. Only, Iam quite sure they did not bother either lot after
it was applied. Alongside of the first lot of beans I had nearly five acres of potatoes
just coming out in flower. There we put Paris green on for the potato bug, a few days
after putting the poison on the second lot of beans. We then noticed that the locusts
were cuiting the potato stems off. Some of the stems cut I noticed were a foot in
length. When walking through the patch lately I saw hundreds of locusts lying dead.
The Paris green was applied to the potatoes mixed with land plaster. At the present
time there are millions of grasshoppers or locusts on my farm, and they are doing an’
enormous amount of damage to my oats. I am afraid it is too late to stop them,
although I intend to scatter the poisonous mixture about the fields. My opinion, so far,
is that the mixture should be put on, especially on grass land, early in the season before
the locusts get their wings and before there is much for them to eat, and continue to
apply it at certain intervals.”—J. E, RICHARDSON.

From the answers received to the questions sent out by Prof. Panton, grasshoppers
were rated as second in the amount of injury caused by insects in Ontario during the past
year. There is no doubt but that early in the season there was a considerable amount of
damage done by locusts ; nevertheless, one of the remarkable occurrences of the year was
certainly the widespread and sudden diminution in the numbers of these insects,
beginning about the Ist of August.

A curious fact affecting the sudden disappearance of locusts in August last was
brought to my notice by Mrs. J. Cunningham Stewart, of Ottawa, who, when travelling
on Lake Huron, saw large numbers of grasshoppers floating in the lake. Mrs. Stewart
also kindly referred me to Mr. Wm. Lockerbie, engineer of the Canadian. Pacific Rail-
way Co.’s steamship “Athabasca,” who had observed them on a previous trip. Mr.
Lockerbie writes: ‘‘As to how numerous these insects were, I can only say they were

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIS1 AND BOTANIST. 237

collected in patches that would probably cover half an acre or perhaps more, and there
seemed to be a very great number of these patches, so much so that when the wind blew
off the bay (Georgian Bay), they would float up the Owen Sound River and collect in
~ any shelter that was open.” Mr. Lockerbie suggests that they may have been blown off
the shore by a high wind.
Judging from a great many letters of correspondents, as well as my own observations,
I feel sure that the sudden disappearance of locusts over large districts in Canada was
due almost entirely to four kinds of well known parasites—a fungus, intestinal worms,
the maggots of two or more species of flies and the locust mite. All of these active
friends are well known to entomologists and have been frequently observed before, but,
as there has been so much interest evinced in the subject, I give herewith a short account
of each, which I feel sure will be acceptable to many.

GRASSHOPPER PARASITES.

Fungous Disease of Grasshoppers.—A most potent ally in the destruction of locusts
when they exceed their normal numbers is a parasitic fungus known by the name of
Empusa grylli (Fresenius) Nowakowski. This produces a very infectious disease, the
effects of which are frequently observed, but the cause of which is seldom recognized.
Diseased locusts were received from Princeton and several other places in Ontario. The
disease seems, too, to have been very virulent near Montreal. Mr. T. A. Crane writes
from that place, under date of Ist August: ‘‘A few days ago the grasshoppers were
vigorously attacking my oats. Last evening, when I examined them again, I noticed
that they were clinging fast to the tops of the stalks, but they were all dead. Some
were minus their heads and some minus their entrails.” This describes well the appear-
ance of locusts which have succumbed to this disease.

During the month of August, and later, it was a common thing to see around Ottawa
and in almost all other places visited, numbers of different species of locusts, but particu-
larly the Two-striped Locust, hanging motionless, generally near the tips of stems of
grasses and other plants. (Fig.6.) Upon examining these,
they were found to be dead and the bodies frequently dried
up, brittle and containing a powdery material. This powder
is in reality the spores of a parasitic fungus very nearly
allied to the well-known and frequently observed Empisa
musce, which every year destroys so many house flies, leav-
ing them deid on windows, curtains, plants, &e., with a
cloud-like deposit of the spores of the fungus around them.
Under certain conditions, probably much affected hy
weather—warm, foggy weather being considered favourable
—the disease of grasshoppers above mentioned frequently
becomes a most fatal epidemic. Each of the mummified
bodies is a centre of infection containing myriads of spores,
each one of which, blown away by wind or washed down
by rain, if it fall upon a locust in a suitable condition, is
capable of causing death. This useful parasite, which does
such efficient service, had attention first drawn to it by
Prof. Herbert Osborn in Iowa, who published his observa-

i tions, with Prof. Bessey’s original description, in Bulleton

No. %, Towa Agr. Coll., 1884, under the name of Lfo-

Fig. 6.—Two-striped Locustkilled mophthora calopteni. The accompanying original illustra-

by fungus. (O. Lugger.) tion, kindly loaned by Prof. Otto Lugger, of the Univer-ity

of Minnesota, shows almirably the attitude of a Two-striped Locust killed by the
fungus.

The Tachina Flies.—Mr. J. E. Richardson, of Princeton, Ont., who, I find from
several letters received on this subject, is a close and accurate observer, writes :—

“July 7.—I have of late noticed, more especially the other day after a rain, flies
attacking the locusts. About half a dozen would fly after one, and as soon as it settled
down they would alight upon it.”

238 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

Prof. Riley graphically describes what this meant, in the First Keport of the
United States Entomological Commission on the Rocky Mountain Locust, page 319:
“The most. common of the parasites which prey on the locusts internally are the larvee
of certain flies belonging to the genus 7'achina, gray-coloured, two-winged flies having
very much the general appearance of house-flies.

“These Tachina-flies firmly fasten their eggs—which are oval, white, and opaque,
and quite tough—to those parts of the body not easily reached by the jaws and legs of
their victims, and thus prevent the eggs from being detached. The slow-flying locusts
are attacked while flying, and it is quite amusing to watch the frantic efforts which one
of them, haunted by a Tachina-fly, will make to evade its enemy. The fly buzzes
around, waiting her opportunity, and, when the locust jumps or flies, darts at it and
attempts to attach her egg under the wing or on the neck. The attempt frequently
fails, but she perseveres until she usually accomplishes her object. With those locusts
which fly readily, she has even greater difficulty ; but though the locust tacks suddenly
in all directions in its efforts to avoid her, she circles close around it and generally suc-
ceeds in accomplishing her purpose, either while the locust is yet on the wing, or, more
often, just as it alights from a flight or a hop. The young maggots hatching from these
eggs eat into the body of the locust, and after rioting on the fatty parts of the bod y—
leaving the more vital parts untouched—they issue and burrow in the ground, where
they contract to brown, egg-like puparia, from which the fly issues either the same
season or not till the following spring. A locust infested with this parasite is more
languid than it otherwise would be; yet it seldom dies till the maggots have left.
Often, in pulling off the wings of such as were hopping about, the bodies have presented
the appearance of a mere shell filled with maggots ; and so eflicient is this parasite that
the ground in parts of the Western States is often covered with the Rocky Mountain
Locusts dead and dying from this cause.”

There are several species of these Tachina-flies, and we have bred two kinds during the
past summer, one from specimens sent by Mr. Richardson, and another much larger species,
Exorista flavicauda, Riley (Fig. 7.), from several localities.
This last named species is of great interest from the fact
that it is the enemy of the Army-worm, which, above all
others, brings down the numbers of that plague when it
increases unduly. There are also, in addition, parasitic
species of flesh-flies (Sarcophaga) which resemble the above
very closely, but may be distinguished by their antennz
being hairy instead of smooth.

Hair-worms.—Hair-worms, or Hair-snakes, as they
are sometimes called, are objects of great curiosity, not only
Fig. 7.—Tachina-fly. to those who know nothing of their habits, but also to all
who have studied their remarkable life history. Their great abundance in some places
during the past summer has been remarked by many correspondents, and the good
work they have done as parasitic enemies of many kinds of grasshoppers, crickets and
other injurious insects, renders it advisable to give a short outline of what is known
about them. There are many misapprehensions as to the true nature of these creatures,
notably the erroneous ideas that they are related to the true snakes or that they are
horse-hairs which by some mysterious process have become capable of living and
moving. Snakes, however, belong to the much more highly organized Vertebrates, or
animals with backbones, while the Hair-worms are members of the Entozoa, or intestinal
worms, a section of the Articulates which have their bodies merely divided into joints.
The supposition that a horse-hair or any other dead organic matter
can ever become a living creature, is too absurd to need more than
mention.
igre Tt must be acknowledged that there are some gaps in our knowledge
Fig. 8.—Egg of Gordius of the life history of Hair-worms concerning which it seems impos-

Sh a Pally de- sible to make any suggestion. It is known positively that the eggs
Nee < Haley naeuiten (Fig. 8.) are laid in water and that the young worms begin their
(After Leidy.) lives as free-moving animals, which have been actually seen to

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 239

penetrate through the delicate skin at the joints of the legs of aquatic insects and live for
some time inclosed within a cell inside the bodies of these. The next stage is as parasites in
fish, the food of which consists largely of aquatic insects. When the latter containing young
Hair-worms are eaten, the cells are broken or dissolved by the process of digestion and the
young worms at once work their way, by means of special hooks around the head (Fig. 9.),
into the stomach of the fish, where they again become encysted in the mucous layer.
After a time they bore through their cells and are
passed out from the fish’s stomach into the water.
Subs: quent to this, nothing is known, until they are
found as parasites inside insects of various orders, and
it is difficult to conceive how it is possible for these }
worms to enter the bodies of such active insects as
locusts and crickets, which also, besides, live mostly in
dry places. It is true, though, as has been pointed out, be
that ground. beetles, spiders and locusts which live in a ey’
low, moist places are most infested. Certain it is, how- Fig. 9.—Young Hair-worms after
ever, that Hair-worms are parasites inside the bodies of ¢scaPing from the egg, highly mag-
; . F nified, showing the circles of hook-
many insects, and that specimens have been seen to lay jets (p! drawn in, and (q) partially
eggs from which young emerged which passed through and (v) wholly protruded.
the stages described above. These worms are of two kinds, which, when only examined °
superficially, differ chiefly in colour: dark ones, from 6 inches to a foot in length and
with a diameter not reaching at the thickest part one twenty-fifth of an inch, belonging
to the genus Gordius, with the above life history ; and others, white in colour, much
longer and slenderer, belonging to the genus Mermis, which, although similar in their
parasitic habits to the Gordius worms, have a quite different mode of development, as
well as a different internal structure. Both kinds of these parasitic worms are frequently
found associated within the body of the same host. The eggs of Mermis are laid in the
ground and the young on hatching resemble their parents in form. On emerging from
the egg they make their way to the surface of the ground and enter at once on their
parasitic life in some insect. They acquire full growth inside their host and then bore
out through the skin and bury themselves in the ground. It is not until this period in
their lives that the genital organs develop. They pass the winter in the ground at
varying depths, and eggs are Jaid in the spring. I received from Mr. T. Pearson, of
Knowlton, Que., gardener to the Hon. Sydney Fisher, a large specimen 17 inches in
length, which he had found in December under a stone six inches beneath the surface
of the ground.

As stated above, these parasitic worms infest insects of various orders. Mr. W.
Hague Harrington, of Ottawa, writes to me :—‘“I have frequently obtained Gordius
from locusts, and on one occasion I obtained two smali specimens of Mermis from a
lady-bird (Hippodamia 13-punctata).

In the First Report of the United States Entomological Commission is a full account
by Prof. Riley of almost all that has been found out concerning these strange creatures.
I quote the following :—

“These Hair-worms are not only very frequently found in different locusts, but Prof.
Leidy even has one from a cockroach. They likewise occur in many other insects ar.d
small animals, as beetles, moths and butterflies, bees, two-winged flies, spiders and snails.
As a rule, the worms forsake Lepidoptera while these are in the larva state or more
rarely in the pupa state, whereas they generally issue from Coleoptera and Orthoptera
only after these have acquired the perfect state.”

While they are inside the bodies of their hosts, Hair-worms are folded and coiled
up so as to occupy a surprisingly small space. When seen, as is frequently the case, on
the ground, they move in a snake-like manner, sometimes with a part of the body raised
up and swaying from side to side. When in the water, they are either knotted together
and tangled like a piece of black cotton or swimming with an undulated motion close to
the surface of the water.

When referred to in correspondence, it is seldom that species of Gordiws and Mermis
are separated, though they are frequently mentioned. In no year do I remember so
many inquiries to have been made as during the past summer, which, of course, was due

240 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

to their unusual numbers. Mr. J. H. Vivian, of Toronto, reports a remarkable occur-
rence of Hair-worms in Toronto, as follows :—“ October 14.—On the occasion when I
first saw them there were millions of them both white and dark-coloured. I have a
large garden, and it was almost impossible to find a space of two inches between the
spots occupied by these worms. A very heavy rain fell on the night preceding. The
special peculiarity about them to me was their snake-like movements; standing almost
on their tails, they swayed the upper two inches of the body in the air.”

During the past autumn they were very abundant, as could frequently be seen on
sidewalks where crickets and grasshoppers had been crushed. Sometimes as many as
five specimens were found inside a single host. There is no doubt that these parasites
materially affect the increase of the insects which they infest, but the statement that
grasshoppers so infested never lay eggs is not always at any rate correct. In October
last I found a female of the Two-striped Locust which had been trodden upon while
laying her eggs between two boards of the sidewalk ; upon pulling her abdomen from
bet ween the boards, I found she had laid five or six eggs and the abdomen contained
several more ready to be laid, and also one specimen of Gordiws and two of Mermus.

The Locust Mite-—The parasite of grasshoppers which has probably been most
frequently noticed and which has been very widespread during the past summer,
is the small red mite, Zrombidium locustarum, Riley, which, in its larval form,
is often a conspicuous object on the bodies of grasshoppers. The larve are small,
bright red, bag-like, six-legged mites (Fig. 10a.), most frequently found attached,

Fig. 10.—Locust Mite: a, mature larva when about to leave the wing of a locust; b, pupa;
ce, male adult when just from the pupa; d, female—the natural size indicated to the right ;
e, palpal claw and thumb; f, pedal claws; g, one of the barbed hairs; h, the striations on
the larval skin. (After Riley.)

in varying numbers, on or near the base of the wings of the perfect grasshoppers, but
also sometimes abundant on the pup. When full-grown, these are about one-twentieth
of an inch in length and about half as wide. The life history of these useful allies,
which, although so small,
destroy many injurious lo-
custs, has been worked out
fully by Dr. Riley. The eggs
are laid in spring in clusters
-! of between 300 and 400,
an inch or two beneath the
surface of the ground. From
these eggs hatch little orange
red mites (Fig. 110.), which,
being very small, crawl out
easily between the particles of
eases the soil and fasten themselves
a ay c 3

Fig. 11.—Locust Mite: a, female with her batch of eggs (after Emer- totheir future hosts, generally
son); b, newly hatched larva—natural size indicated by the dot selecting a spot near the base
within the circle; c, egg; d, e, vacated egg-shells. (After Riley.) of the wings from which they

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. | 241

cannot be dislodged. Sinking their minute jaws into the tissues of the body of their
veitim, they remain firmly attached, sucking its blood and living entirely at its expense,
until the full larval growth isreached. Dr. Riley thinks that the full period of develop-
ment of the larve, after attachment, seldom exceeds a fortnight. When distended
with food, these mites are so swollen that their short legs are almost invisible, and many
people who notice them mistake them for the eggs of some parasite. When examined
closely, however, their legs can be seen and are found to be six in number, which is now
known to be one of the characters of the larve of the genus of mites called Zrombidiwm.
As soon as the larve are full-fed, they let go their hold of their hosts and fall to the
ground, where, under some temporary shelter, they gradually change to pup inside the
jarval skin. Finally, both the old larval skin and the new one inside it, which incased
the pupa, burst, and the perfect form, an eight-legged mite, emerges. These are common
objects in the country, drawing the attention even of people who do not study insects,
by the intensity of their velvety scarlet colour. They pass the winter in the perfect
state, and are frequently conspicuous on the ground in early spring before vegetation has
made much growth. Not only is this insect useful in the larval form, when it preys
upon locusts, but also in the perfect state it does good service by seeking out and devour-
ing their eggs. aks :

I give below a few extracts from letters of correspondents who have noticed these
mites :—

“Craighurst, Simcoe Co., Ont., Dec. 19.—We had this year the same experience
with grasshoppers as you mention. They hatched out in immense numbers, and at one
time we were afraid they would do great damage, but they seemed to disappear early in
August or the latter part of July. The parasite that lays its eggs on their backs under
the wings was abundant. Most specimens examined showed their presence.”—G. C.

-Caston.

‘“« Princeton, Brant Co., Ont., June 23.—On examining some locusts or grasshoppers,
I find on the underside of the wings some minute insects—I suppose, parasites. They
are now on nearly all the locusts I have Jooked at. The majority are about ., of an
inch in length, but many much smaller, of a bright red colour.”—J. E. Ricuarpson.

“Doe Lake, Muskoka, Ont., August 18.—Grasshoppers damaged both grass and
grain. They have done much harm on light sandy soil ; there are many of the red eggs
under the wings. Are they parasites ?’—F. C. Jupp.

‘QOmemee, Victoria Co., Ont., Aug. 3.—I send you a common grasshopper, with
red insects on it. They appear to be very numerous this year, but I fear came too late
to prevent the grasshoppers doing harm.”—E, S. Morean.

‘“‘ Louise, Grey Co., Ont., September 26.—Grasshoppers came along about the Ist of
June in massive flocks and destroyed nearly all the hay. They were by far worst on
spring wheat and barley; in fact, there was hardly any of either grain in this part.
Oats turned out about 10 to 12 bushels per acre. Pease were a fair crop. The hoppers
all disappeared about the Ist of August.”—Grorer Last. .

“London, Middlesex Co., Ont., December 7.—I never saw grasshoppers worse than
in a part of McGillivray about the middle of June, but within two or three miles on
each side they were scarce. Where they were very numerous, I found none of the
locust mites ; where scarce, almost every one was infested.”—_J. DeARNEssS.

THe Gray BuisteER BEETLE.

No account of the common parasitic enemies of grasshoppers would be complete with-
out some mention of the Blister Beetles, which in their larval stage prey upon the eggs.
During the past summer, as is usually the case in years following excessive locust presence,
Blister Beetles have done considerable damage to potato and bean crops and several
kinds of garden plants.

“ Grenville, Argenteuil Co., Que., June 11.—I send by mail specimens of a new (to
me) potato pest. On a potato patch 20 feet by 40 feet there were many thousands of
them. I was through the patch two days ago, and there was no appearance of anything
unusual. Now the plants on which they are feeding are almost leafless.” RoBert
HamILrton.

8c—16

249 BX PERIMENTAL FARMS.

“Staynerville, Argenteuil Co., Que., June 18. I have a field of horse beans which
came up and are growing nicely, but during the last two or three days a kind of bluish
fly is stripping off every leaf.”—Wwm. NicHoLs.

* Chéneville, Labelle Co., Que., June 16.—I send you some insects which are in
very large numbers on my potatoes, eating the leaves rapidly. J have sprayed the plants
with a mixture of 1 pound of Paris green in 200 gallons and the insects are already
disappearing.” —H. LrEFEBvRrE.

Specimens were also sent from Mr. L. Lepage, from Minerve in the same county.

“Port Arthur, Ont., June 23.—I mail you herewith insects captured on a potato:
patch near Port Arthur, wherein they were stripping the vines of their leaves. These
are apparently a far worse destroyer than the Colorado Potato-beetle. This is the first
time an enemy of the leaf of the potato has appeared in this district.”—Josepa G.
Kine.

“ Montreal, Que., June 25.—I send you beetles which did a little harm on my farm
last year, and this year they have done a good deal. Their preference seems to be for
tender, delicate foliage, but when this is not handy they take what they can get. They
began with Caragana gracilis, Aralia spinosa and Clematis flammula, and ended with
potatoes and tomatoes. They come in hundreds and make a clean sweep of any branch
they attack.”—Tuos. A. CRANE.

“ Montreal, Que., June 24.—I send specimens of a beetle which attacks the Windsor
Broad Beans. We have giown these beans for three years at Lachine. The first year
they produced well, the next year this beetle pest appeared in swarms and ravaged
them severely. ‘Tired of picking them off, we tried a weak mixture of Paris green, with
flour or water, I forget which, but it killed the crop and we did not have a dressing.
This year we have more beans growing than usual, but they have been attacked inces-
santly by the pest which is a voracious eater. A neighbour not knowing our experience
tried Paris green and killed his plants. We have been picking and knocking the pests
off into a mixture of coal oil and water in a broad, shallow vessel, which seems to kill
them. Last year a small cloud of them settled down on the potato vines and ate to
some extent, but did no damage. This year they have left the potatoes alone for the
‘eans. ‘They do not breed in our place, but settle down in small swarms, full-sized, and
it seems to us tat nothing but a strong mixture, dangerous to the plant, would kill
them, but perhrr- vou can tell us a remedy. It is necessary to pick them off at least
once a day (earlierin the season, perhaps oftener), but they are not diminishing much.
The labour is so tiresome that we shall be little disposed to grow our favourite bean
another year, and others no doubt feel the same.”—-A. H. CHAmBers.

“Previck Haii, Port Arthur, Algoma, Ont., Sept. 5.—In July my horse beans were
infested with black beetles which I have sometimes seen on potatoes. I do not think
they have podded quite so well. I did not dare to use poison for the beetles, as it would
have spoiled the fodder. I killed as many as possible by hand, but they stripped many
stalks of the leaves.”—WILLIAM WILSON.

‘“‘ Petitcodiac, Westmoreland Co., N.B., Dec. 9.—The black blister beetles were on
my horse beans in about the same numbers as last year.”—D. Sincvair Siva.

All the specimens sent in this year were the gray blister beetle (J/acrobasis unicolor,
Kirby). Here on the Experimental Farm the same species was abundant and troublesome
on Caragana hedges, some other leguminous shrubs in the botanic garden and Aralia
chinensis, L. Although the attack is severe while it iasts, the period during which blister
beetles injure vegetation is not of long duration. Moreover, these insects do not appear
in injurious numbers every year. They are seldom noticed except in seasons following
those when locusts of different kinds have been unusually abundant, a fact which is easily
understood when we remember that the larve feed upon the eggs of locusts. For the
same reason we may confidently hope that next year we shall have little complaint of
the ravages of blister beetles on beans and other crops, owing to the marked diminution
in the numbers of grasshoppers after the lst of August last. In localities liable to be
visited by blister beetles a sharp watch should be kept for their appearance during July,
and as soon as they are seen efforts should be made to fight them, either by sweeping
the crops with a net mounted on a handle or by beating them into a pan containing some

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 243

water, with a little coal oil on the top. When the area attacked is too large for this,
spraying promptly with Paris green, one pound to 100 gallons of water, or dusting with
one pound of Paris green to 50 of flour, would destroy them.

Referring to Mr. A. H. Chambers’s experience above mentioned, I think there must
have been some other cause than the Paris green which destroyed his crop, for a very
much stronger mixture than he mentions has been used by some of my correspondents and
by myself without injury on the same crop.

Locusts oN SABLE ISLAND.

In my reports for 1894 and 1895 I have referred to serious injury by locusts on
Sable Island, off the coast of Nova Scotia. This was so severe last year that it was
necessary to purchase 50 tons of hay to keep the horses and stock through the winter.
During the past summer the loss has been far less. The Superintendent of the island
writes: “September 7.—In a few days we shall have finished harvesting the hay crop,
which this season is large, owing to the unusual continuous fogs and heavy rains from
June till the middle of August. The locusts have done but little damage, although
plentiful. Vegetation nearly everywhere kept ahead of them.” In an earlier letter
dated the 12th of June, the Superintendent expressed the opinion that hopper-dozers could
not be used satisfactorily on Sable Island, owing to the uneven surface and loose sand in
places. He invested in turkeys and raised a large number of chickens, which doubtless
- were useful in destroying many locusts. The young locusts first appeared at No. 4
Station about the 24th of May, but none appeared at Main Station until the 12th of June.

ROOT CROPS AND VEGETABLES.

Few complaints of injuries by insects to root crops during the past season have been
received. There were, of course, the usual applications for remedies against the TURNIP
FLEA-BEETLE (Phyllotreta vittata, Fab.) from all parts of the Dominion, but the loss was
not extensive. The best remedy—dusting the young plants as soon as they appear with
land plaster and Paris green (50 to 1)—is now well known. During June this insect,
both in the mature and larval forms, was troublesome in gardens at Ottawa upon cress,
particularly the curled varieties. When the plants were young, a mixtureof Paris green
and flour was used successfully ; but later, when the crop was ready for the table, dusting
with powdered tobacco waste was substituted, and the cress was kept closely picked.
The larvee, which are slender, dark brown grubs, dotted with black, are from one-eighth
to three-sixteenths of an inch long, and for the most part mine inside the tissues of the
leaves, but frequently, when nearly full grown, burrow out through the thin epidermis
and feed for a time on the surface. I have been unable to find these feeding, either on
or in the roots. When full-fed they enter the ground, sometimes to a depth of three
inches, and emerge nearly three weeks later as the well known perfect flea beetles,
which are about one-eighth of an inch long, with two wide waved yellow stripes down
the back. As a rule, the larve are not often noticed, because by the middle of June the
demand for garden cress as a salad or table relish has ceased, owing to the abundance of
radishes and similar vegetables. Injury to the leaves at this time is, therefore, of small
importance, as the larve are never abundant enough to affect the formation of seeds on
such plants as are left for that purpose. When green leaves are required, the best method
is to encourage a quick growth by watering frequently and cutting as soon as the leaves
are fit for use. A weak solution of nitrate of soda (one ounce in three gallons of water)
applied carefully to the roots twice a week was found to be a quick-acting stimulant.
In this way succulent leaves are produced abundantly before the larve have time to
develop. When, however, a bed is badly infested, the only plan is to cut the whole bed
and water freely ; the new growth will also start more quickly if the beds are shaded.

8c—164

244 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

In the North-west Territories and Western Manitoba the Rep Turnip BEerrLe
(Entomoscelis adonidis, Fab.) did some harm to cabbages and turnips, but the beetles were
easily disposed of where Paris green was applied.

The SrrrpeD CucumBER BEETLE (Diabrotica vittata, Fab.) was the cause of much loss
on melons, squashes and cucumbers in several parts of Ontario. The injury is done by
the perfect beetles to the flowers and leaves, and by the grubs to the roots in which they
burrow. The remedies which have given the greatest satisfaction are dusting the plant
with Paris green and dry ashes (1 to 50) or covering them, until the runners are produced ~
and the plants become too large, with a piece of gauze or cheese cloth, supported by two
or three sticks stuck into the ground, and with the edges held down by a handful of
earth on each side. This means of protection was first suggested by Dr. Clarence Weed
in a bulletin of the Ohio Experiment Station for September, 1889, and has been used
with much success by some of my correspondents, particularly in garden culture. For
preventing egg-laying and also for killing the young larve, putting a small quantity of
tobacco dust or sand, impregnated with coal oil, close round the base of the stems, is useful
if the gauze covers above mentioned are not used.

Tue Crover Cut-worm (Mamestra trifolit, Esp.).—During the month of August I
received from a few localities in Peterborough county, Ont., specimens of caterpillars
of the Clover Cut-worm, with the information that they were damaging pease and turnips
severely, and some other crops. They were so numerous that they had assumed the
Army-worm habit of marching from field to field in search of food. The Clover Cut-worm
is a thick, green, smooth caterpillar with black or gray markings extremely variable
both in the depth of the ground colour and the shape and extent of the markings, some
specimens appearing to be all green, while others have the dark markings so extensive
as to cover the whole of the upper surface. Length, about one and a half inches. <A
more exact description of the full-grown caterpillar is as follows :— :

“A dark-green noctuid caterpillar with a very narrow dorsal stripe, a broken sub-
dorsal stripe of yellow, edged above by velvety black blotches (the b'ack line not quite
as continuous as the yellow); below the breathing pores, a broad pink band, narrowly
edged with white above and below. Above the upper white line is a black one which
spreads out into a black blotch around each spiracle. The whole body mottled with
white on a smooth green surface, giving a somewhat glaucous shade to the green. The
narrow dorsal stripe consists of an aggregation of these mottlings, and the dorsal space
has them shadowed with black, giving that area a darker appearance than the rest of
the body. Legs and pro-legs green, like the body. Head green, bearing on the upper
part of the face and on the cheeks clouds of white mottlings. Some of these cater-
pillars were simply pale green with fuscous markings, others were green, with clear
brownish or black markings, some had the mottling all over the body so shaded with
brown as to suggest the appearance of the Army-worm. Specimens intermediately tinted
between ali these colours occurred.”

“ Birdsall, Peterborough Co., Ont., August 10.—By this day’s mail I send you a
box with half a dozen worms that have nearly destroyed a field of pease forme. Kindly
tell me the name of them, and if it would be safe to sow the field with fall wheat next
month, or would they be apt to come and destroy it next year or this fall? The ground
is nearly covered with them. They first appeared about two weeks ago. They have
destroyed several patches of turnips in the neighbourhood. I also send you a sample of
the pea vine as partially eaten by them.

“ August 17.—Thanks for your prompt answer to my letter in regard to the cater-
pillar. It may be as you state, that the damage to the pease will not be as great as I at
first expected, as they hardened up so quickly that the worms had to leave. They all
started off in a south-eastern direction and will by this time have all fallen into the river
or lake. They have not attacked my turnips, as they are to the west of the field, but
many of my neighbours to the north and west are having their turnips destroyed by
them.”—F. Brrpsatt.

“ Birdsall, Peterborough Co., Ont., November 25.—The turnips injured grew right
besides a field of pease, and for a time we thought some new insect pest had made its
appearance, but when we came to cut the pease the mystery was explained, as they were

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 245

evidently the same kind of caterpillars as are always found on pease ; only, this year
they were very much more numerous than usual and crossed over from the pease to the
turnips. The green leaves near the ends of the pea vines and the ends of the vines
themselves were eaten, but the pease were too nearly ripe when they were attacked to be
injured much. I never before saw anything like it. The ground was literally alive
with the crawling insects. We put Paris green on the turnips, and this doubtless
helped, but the insects were so numerous that one set after another took the place of
those killed. The turnips near the pease were injured most and as you receeded from
the edge of the pease the injury lessened. The turnips put forth a new set of leaves,
but the growth of the roots were stunted and they were only about half a crop. There
seemed to be about half a dozen different kinds of caterpillars. I could see no difference
between some of them and the ordinary cabbage worms. Then there were all shades of
green and brown with various markings, some with two rows of yellow stripes, others
with two rows of yellow dots along the back, others with black dots, and some simply
a shade of green, brown or black. I did hear of caterpillars being plentiful in some
parts of adjacent townships, but in this immediate neighbourhood I do not think the
injury caused by them was very great. They were on no crops near here, only pease
and turnips, and the turnips alone were greatly injured.”—Rogert TUDHOPE.

“Villiers, Peterborough Co., Ont.—The green caterpillar which destroyed our turnips
did not touch our pease, but there were thousands of them on turnips and carrots, doing
much injury. One of my neighbours, Mr. James Fife, says there were millions on his
turnips and carrots, injuring the crop about half. Mr. George Webber used Paris green
on his turnips, but with little effect, as the numbers were so great.”—Puitip W. Eum-
HIRST.

Remedies.— When these caterpillars assume the habit of the Army-worm of marching
from field to field, ploughing a deep furrow across their path is a useful check. If
sufficiently abundant, as will rarely be the case, to fill up the furrow, they may be easily
destroyed by dragging a heavy log over them. When they occur on roots and other
crops, the only practical method of destroying them is dusting or sprinkling the plants
with a Paris green mixture. Ploughing late in the autumn is also recommended. As
the Clover Cut-worm passes the winter in the chrysalis stage inside a slight cell a short
distance beneath the surface of the soil, late ploughing will disturb many and expose
them to the frost and to predaceous enemies.

Tue ZEBRA CATERPILLAR (Mamestra picta, Harris).—A good many letters of com-
plaint have been received concerning the work of the well known Zebra Caterpillar, which
was abundant in the eastern parts of Ontario. There are two broods of this insect every
year. The moths of the first brood issue from the chrysalis during May and lay their
eggs in large clusters on the under sides of leaves of many different plants. These hatch
in a little more than a week, and the young caterpillars for a time feed gregariously,
devouring all the green cellular portion and making large conspicuously white patches on
the leaves. As they grow larger, they separate and feed singiy. The caterpillars of the
first brood are full grown about mid-summer, when they are large caterpillars, two inches
in length, beautifully ornamented, velvety black on the back, with two golden yellow
stripes connected by narrow white lines along the sides. The head, thoracic feet and
pro-legs are bright reddish brown. When full-grown these caterpillars spin slight cocoons
just beneath the surface of the ground and the moths emerge about the first week in
August; they are rather dull-coloured, purplish-brown moths, with white under-wings,
expanding about one and a half inches across the opened wings.

The eggs for the second brood are laid throughout August and into September, and
the caterpillars are to be found, as a rule, later than those of any other of our moths.
Being conspicuously coloured, they are often noticed crawling about looking for food late
in the autumn when most kinds of plants have been frozen and killed. The winter
season is passed in the chrysalis state beneath the ground. :

The crops most attacked by the Zebra Caterpillar last season were pease, and particu-
larly sweet pease in gardens, turnips, clover, potatoes and cabbages. In addition to
these, however, these insects levied heavy toll in the flower garden attacking indiscrimi-
nately almost all annuals. The eggs and clusters of young caterpillars of the second

248 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

brood were found in remarkable numbers at Ottawa during August on lucerne, and on
lily and gladiolus leaves.

The eggs were much infested by two minute parasites, T'richogramma pretiosa,
Riley, and Z'elonomus sp., noticed in the same connection in 1892, and the young cater-
pillars were also destroyed by an Apanteles which occurred both at Ottawa and at
Birdsall, Ont.

“ Birdsall, Peterborough Co., Ont., August 18.—There are two kinds of caterpillars
which are doing a good deal of harm on my turnips, a green one and a yellow and black
striped one. I suppose a little of the Paris green and plaster mixture would be the best
thing for them. Kindly let me know if you think there would be any danger in feeding
roots so treated to stock.”—_F. Birpsa.u.

““Omemee, Victoria Co., Ont., August 18.—I send you some striped caterpillars
which I find in numbers on the turnips, a great many together on a single leaf ; they
seem to eat the upper surface principally.. There are with them, also abundant but
occurring singly, some green ones which eat the edges of the leaves, No. 2, and besides
a few of the smooth green ones with dark marks, No. 3, which feed like No. 2.”—E. 8.
MorGan.

The green caterpillars mentioned by Mr. Birdsall and the No. 2 of Mr. Morgan’s
sending were those of the small White Cabbage Butterfly (Pieris Rape, L.). Mr.
Morgan’s No. 3 were specimens of the Clover Cut-worm (Mamestra trifolii, Esp.).

“‘ Peterborough, Ont., September 3.—The inclosed worm is very abundant in this
neighbourhood this season ; it feeds on the leaves of turnips.”—J. A. Fire.

Femedies.—The best remedy for these caterpillars is spraying or dusting with
arsenical/mixtures, but they seem to be rather resistent to the action of those poisons
generally used, such as Paris green. Mr. T. W. Ramm, of Ross Mount, Northumber-
land Co., Ont., writes: “ You know the yellow-striped caterpillars of Mamestra picta
which are sometimes plentiful on pease. It took almost two days to kill some of these
which were on pease, although I almost buried them in dry Paris green of full strength
tested with ammonia and then it destroyed the pease as well.” A weaker mixture distri-
buted evenly over the food plant would probably have been more fatal to the caterpillars
without injuring the pea plants—1 lb. of Paris gréen to 200 gallons of water or to 50 lbs.
of dry land plaster was quite satisfactory at Ottawa.

No danger need be apprehended from feeding roots to stock which have been dusted or
sprayed with Paris green mixtures. There are always several weeks—and this at a rainy
season of the year, too—between the time that this is likely to be necessary and when the
roots are fed to stock. If there is any doubt, however, about all the poison being washed
off the roots, the tops can easily be cut off closer to the root than usual, which will
remove all possibility of danger. The poison could only lodge in the axils of the leaves,
of which a clean sweep will be made when the leaves are cut off.

Owing to the gregarious nature of the caterpillars when young, good work can be
done in August and September by picking off the leaves bearing the young broods and
destroying them.

Sma, Waite Cassace Burrerryy (Pieris Rape, L.).—It will be noticed in the
above extracts that this insect was twice mentioned asinjurious to turnips. There were
other reports of the same nature, but the chief injury mentioned by correspondents was
to cabbages. There are few insects more easily controlled than this, if prompt action be
taken at the proper time.

The best remedy for this insect, as far as my experience goes, is undoubtedly pyre-
thrum powder diluted with four times its weight of common flour and then kept in a
tightly closed vessel for twenty-four hours until the poisonous principle has permeated
the whole mixture. Ifa small quantity of this mixture be dusted over infested plants,
the caterpillars are all destroyed, and in a surprisingly short time. Pyrethrum or insect
powder kills by contact, both in a dry condition and as a decoction, so that such cater-
pillars as are not actually reached by the powder are destroyed by the poisonous principle
of the pyrethrum carried farther among the leaves by rain or condensed dew. This
remedy is so effective and so cheap that I do not think it well to recommend any other.

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 247

_ It has also the very great advantage of being perfectly safe, because, although so fatal to
all insects, it has no poisonous effect on man and the higher animals.

The Cotorapo Poraro-BeETLE (Doryphora 10-lineata, Say) seems to be, on the
whole, the most troublesome farm insect in the country. Prof. Panton, of Guelph, Ont.,
expresses the same opinion in his report on answers received to the questions he had sent
out to the farmers of Ontario as to which were, in their experience, the insect pests most
injurious to farm crops. In most places, however, growers have generally adopted the
easy and cheap means of keeping it in check by spraying or sprinkling the potato plants
with Paris green mixed with water or some dry powder asa diluent. This remedy, when
applied with ordinary care, answers its purpose most effectively.

“The potato-beetle was reported as numerous by some correspondents, while others
stated that it was not nearly so bad as usual.”—Ontario Crop Report, Aug. 13.

“Point de Bute, Westmoreland Co., N.B.—The potato-beetle did less damage this
season than last.” -Howarp TRUEMAN.

“ Alberton, P.E.I.—The Colorado beetle came out of winter quarters later than usual
this spring and many were congratulating themselves that it would not show itself, but
it soon got to work, and if the potatoes were late in coming up, it stood right by, waiting
their arrival, utilizing the blades of grass for egg laying in the meantime. Good Paris
green saved the crop. Farmers have improved ways of ‘greening’ now, As a general
thing, a cask on a cart or truck, provided with a sprinkler at each side, thus covering
quite a number of drills at a time, made the work light. The acreage under potatoes is
restricted now. A farmer seldom plants more than a couple of acres. They are low-
priced, and the bug has raised the cost of production. I really think, though, that this
bug is running its course.”—Rery. A. E. Burke.

“That great potato pest, the Colorado potato beetle, seems to be much less dreaded
than formerly. It seems to have been well kept in check by the use of Paris green, either
sprayed on the vines or dusted on after being mixed with gypsum or land plaster.”—
Nova Scotia Crop Report, November.

According to the notes from the different districts of Nova Scotia, contained in the
above crop report, the potato-beetle was particularly troublesome in the north-western
counties, but much less in the others.

“Yarmouth, Yarmouth Co., N.S.—I have not yet seen a potato-beetle in my county.
A few have appeared in widely separated localities since 1893, when the first were
noticed, but this is the fourth year since, and there has not been at any time a marked
increase in serious injuries from them in this county.”—-CHartzs E. Brown.

“Glace Bay, Cape Breton, N.S.—Insects this season did much less damage to
vegetation. Chief among them is the Colorado Potato-beetle, which made things pretty
lively for the farmers round my home. Some used Paris green, others hand-picked them.
The beetles do not seem, however, to be so numerous as at first.”—J ames W. Epwarps.

“Upper Baddeck, Victoria Co., N.S.—The potato bugs were very plentiful. I did
not learn that any in this district used Paris green, as they are somewhat afraid of its
poisonous effects. We, however, find that if we commence early, when the beetles first
show themselves, to spray the fields carefully three or four times in as many weeks, it
leaves them powerless to do much injury when the vines get strong.” ALLAN McMILLay.

“ Berwick, King’s Co., N.S.—The potato bug has become so general that it is taken
quite as a matter of course, and the farmer expects to use Paris green quite as much as he
expects to plant his seed.”S. C. PARKER.

Cur-worM injuries in garden and field crops have this year been frequently reported.
The most severe depredations were committed in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and in
Alberta District ; strange to say too, it was by the same species the Red-backed Cut-
worm (Carneades ochrogaster, Gn.). Itis seldom that correspondents trouble to send in
cut-worms, but when this was done, in almost every instance, the species was found to
be the above which gave trouble during the spring of 1896. Although there are so
many difterent species of cut-worms, their general habits are now so well known that a
wide-awake gardener or farmer can by prompt attention and a little trouble, as a rule,

7

248 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. ]

do a great deal to prevent serious loss. Cut-worms are the caterpillars of dull-coloured

active moths belonging to the WVoctuide or Owlet Moths
g (Fig. 12), of which there are upwards of 400 different kinds
jin North America. The caterpillars of these different kinds
vary somewhat in their habits, but, on the whole, they are
very similar, being smooth, almost naked, gray-looking
caterpillars (Fig. 13) of some dull shade
of colour similar to the ground in which
they hide during theday. Thehead is =
smooth and shining as well as a small =

Fig. 12.—A Cut-worm Moth horny plate on the s segment next to the pie 13. A Cut-wo

(Agrotis clandestina). head. Their habits a are almost always — (A. clandestina\.
nocturnal ; lying hid by day just beneath the surface of the soil, they come out at night
to feed. When they occur in large numbers, they change their habits somewhat and
feed by day as well, owing to the reduced food supply consequent upon their ravages.
The eggs from which cut-worms hatch are laid by some species in the autumn and by
others in the apring or summer and, as a consequence, cut-worms of all sizes can be
found in the spring ; for these insects, according to the species, may pass the winter in the
state of either a perfect moth, a chrysalis, a partially grown caterpillar, or an egg.
This last habit is that usually, if not always, followed ‘by the Red-backed Cut-worm.
Eggs laid in Ottawa in October did not hatch until the end of the following April, and
the caterpillar took 6 weeks to reach full growth ; they were then large cut-worms
over 14 inches in length, gray, with a broad sienna-red stripe down the middle of the
back. The moths did not emerge until 5 weeks after the caterpillars buried themselves
to turn to chrysalids. This cut-worm is particularly injurious. It is a large voracious
species with an exceptionally wide territorial distribution and feeds upon almost all
kinds of succulent vegetation. Nearly all the references in the following extracts were
to the Red-backed Cut-worm.

* Edmonton, Alta.—Cut-worms as busy as ever in the Peace River District.”—
C. Burron.

“ Edmonton, Alta., June 16.—Everbody about here is troubled with a ORGS
which have done great damage, necessitating the sowing of gardens over again.’
Francis C. Charge.

“South Edmonton, Alta., July 13.—I send you a box containing cut-worms. They
are most destructive, cutting off cabbage and all root crops just under the ground. If
you remove the earth from a bitten off plant, you find the grub buried just beneath.
They are general throughout this district.”—I. L. AnpreEws.

‘Lacombe, Alta.—I tried alsike clover here; it came up splendidly ; but the
ground was so full of cut-worms that they took almost the whole of it, although I
sowed about six acres.” —Harry SARGENT

‘Cochrane, Alta.—This summer for the first time cut-worms were very bad on my
cabbage crop; they cut the plants off close to the ground.”—Joun DartTIGuE.

“ Calgary, Alta.—I have a fair-sized vegetable and flower garden here. This spring
my garden swarmed with cut-worms, as did gardens of others in the neighbourhood.
The worm is just the colour of the soil; it burrows into the ground by day and comes
up at night to feed. These insects gave no trouble after the first or second week of
June. I had to plant three crops of every thing before I could get the start of them.
The vegetables the worms went for were onions, beets, parsnips, carrots, peas, beans,
turnips, radishes, lettuce. Can you advise me what to do to rid my garden of this
pest ?”—E. D. H. Winxins. s+

“Victoria, B.C., June 12.—Cut-worms have been hard at work about Victoria. One
grower lost all his ‘onions, and I have heard complaints from many others.”—J. W.
Toumie,

At the same time specimens were also received from Mr. Mont. McDonald, of the
same place.

“St, John, N.B., May 27.—Please send me some information about cut-worms.
Last year in the garden at my summer house out of town we were very much troubled

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 249

‘with them. It seems impossible to destroy them. Can you give us a remedy ?”—W.
‘Watson-ALLEN.

“Sussex, N.B.—Cut-worms in the spring were a terrible pest, and several men who
make a habit of growing some hundreds of barrels of onions in this section were unable
‘to grow any at all.”.—W. W. Husparp.

“Fredericton, N.B.—We had a regular plague of cut-worms last spring. Our root
crops, and to some extent the corn and grain, were much damaged by them. I knew a
field that was re-seeded four times.”——Percy C. Powys.

‘‘Petitcodiac, N.B.—The cut-worm is our worst enemy and is worst on sod, even if
ploughed fall and spring.”—B. Sincxair Situ.

“ Halifax, N.S., June 27.—How can I destroy cut-worms? It is impossible to grow
anything in some lands in this neighbourhood, even in newly turned up soil. They are

‘destroying my ensilage corn.” —R. Hunt.

‘‘ Berwick, King’s Co., N.S.—Cut-worms were very destructive in Nova Scotia this
summer ; many fields of beans, turnips, cabbages and tomatoes were much injured. Our
cabbage and tomato crop was only saved by wrapping the stems with paper as the plants
were set.”—S. E. Parker, Secretary, Fruit Growers’ Ass., N.S.

“ Nappan, Cumberland Co., N.S.—Cut-worms bothered us a good deal, but were

extremely destructive in Yarmouth Co.”—W. 8. Brair.

“Yarmouth, Yarmouth Co., N.S.—Cut-worms abounded throughout the county,
destroying successive sowings of vegetable crops. They are estimated to have reduced
mangels by 15 per cent.”—C. E. Brown.

“Bear River, Digby Co., N.S.—Cut-worms did a great deal of harm in the spring to

all kinds of vegetables.”—R. G. TURNBULL.

“Chester, Lunenburg Co., N.S.—Cut-worms destroyed gardens.”—H. D. Lorpty.

In the Nova Scotia Crop Bulletin for November, 1896, cut-worm injuries are
recorded in the counties of Digby, Lunenburg, Pictou and Yarmouth.

“ Alberton, P.E.1.—We were much troubled with cut-worms in our gardens in late
May and June. Some people lost all their young vegetable plants, having been, I think,
too careful to pull out all the weeds early. The dry weather suited the worms. At
night in June and July you could hardly see out of the windows from the numbers of
the clumsy brownish gray moths of this pest.”—Rerv. A. E. Burke.

Remedies.—The remedies for cut-worms are active or preventive. The chief active
remedies are, poisoning the caterpillars, which may be done effectively in two ways, or
hand-picking:

1. Traps.—Large numbers may be destroyed by placing between the rows of an
infested crop, or at short distances apart on infested land, bundles of any succulent
weed or other vegetation which have been previously poisoned by dipping them into a
strong mixture of Paris green (2 ounces to a pailful of water). The cut-worms eat the
poisoned plants then they bury themselves and die. In hot dry weather these bundles
should be placed out after sun-down, and a shingle may be laid on each to prevent
fading.

2. Poisoned Bran.—Striking results have been obtained during the last two years
by putting along rows, or at the base of such plants as tomatoes and cabbages, a small
quantity of the following mixture which is mentioned in Prof. J. B. Smith’s excellent
new Manual of Economie Entomology :—

Thoroughly mix together in a dry state 50 pounds of bran and 1 pound of Paris
green ; then add water a little sweetened with sugar until the whole is thoroughly wet
but not sloppy. Prof. Smithsays: “This mixture is extremely attractive to cut-worms,
being preferred to plants in all the instances which have come under my notice. It
takes about ten pounds of this mixture to an acre of potatoes as ordinarily planted.”

The same mixture has been used dry by Mr. F. A. Sirrine of Geneva, N.Y., with,
he claims, even better results than the wet mixture, which is apt to get mouldy.

3. Hand-pieking, or digging up the cut-worms whenever a plant is seen to be cut
off, should, of course, always be practised.

Preventive remedies consist of :

4. Clean culture, by which all vegetation is removed, upon which the young cater-
pillars could feed in the autumn or which would attract the moths to lay their eggs.

250 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

5. Banding.—Cut-worms are heavy-bodied insects unable to climb over smooth
surfaces ; therefore, surrounding a plant or tree with a band of tin or even of paper in
the case of such plants as cabbages and tomatoes is an effective means of protection.
Tin bands may easily be made by taking pieces of tin six inches long by two and a half
wide and bending them around a spade or broom handle so as to form short tubes. In
placing them around a plant, the two ends can be sprung apart to admit the stem and
then the tube should be pressed a short distance into the ground. I have found this a
useful means of disposing of tomato and other cans. To prepare these easily the cans
need only be thrown into a bon-fire, when the tops and bottoms fall off and the side
becomes unsoldered. The large piece of tin can then be used whole or may be cut down
the centre with a pair of shears so as to form two bands. It may be well to mention here
that the two remedies so often recommended in newspapers, salt and lime, have proved
quite worthless in our experiments for preventing cut-worm injuries.

Ewe Ls.

The fruit crop of Canada, particularly of apples, has this year been enormous, and
compared with other years, there has been little complaint of insect injuries. Wherever
spraying with Paris green, either alone or mixed with fungicides, has been practised,
marked results have been obtained. These would, of course, have been much more
noticeable in a year of less abundant fruitage. It is to be regretted that this most use-
ful means of saving money is not more universally adopted by the fruit growers of the
Dominion.

Two new pests of the apple, the Apple Fruit-miner in British Columbia, and the
Apple Maggot in Ontario, have demanded attention on account of their injuries during
the past season. These are treated of at some length later.

The Copuine Morn (Carpocapsa pomonella, L.) has, as usual, been mentioned
frequently in correspondence, but, on the whole, owing to the enormous apple crop and
also to the more general adoption of spraying, has not done much harm.

“ Berwick, King’s Co., N.S.—Codling Moth did but little injury. Fruit seldom
was so free from worms.”—S. C. PARKER.

The only mention of this insect in the Nova Scotia Crop Report for November,
1896, is the following :

“ Lawrencetown, Annapolis Co.—Very few wormy apples.”—J. W. WHITMAN.

In the Ontario Crop Returns for August, 1896, there are only two correspondents
who mention this insect as follows :—

“Plympton, Lambton Co.—There are no worms in the apples so far this year, even
where spraying has not been done.”

“ Ashfield, Huron Co.—Spraying was little practised and yet the fruit is almost
free from fungi and worms. This is unusual, and spraying with proper mixtures should
not be disregarded, for this exemption may not occur again.”

“Grimsby, Wentworth Co., Ont.—The second brood of Codling Moth has been
very troublesome this year in some orchards, particularly where spraying has been
neglected. One of my orchards on the hill-side was very difficult to reach with the
spraying waggon, and, therefore, it was neglected. As a result, a very large proportion
of the apples were affected and had to be thrown out asseconds. Although spraying for
fungi has not been so necessary this year, yet spraying for Codling Moth has been as
necessary as ever.”—L. WooLvERTON.

“St. Catharines, Lincoln Co., Ont.—The Codling Moth has not been quite so bad
as usual, though the enormous crop of apples pointed to by the sceptical as evidence of
the futility of spraying is rather misleading. The number of Codling Moths active this
year would have made a very different showing if the crop of apples had been a small
instead of an abnormally large one.’—Martin BURRELL.

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 251

“Freeman, Halton Co., Ont.—In the younger apple orchards the Codling Moth did
a great deal of damage, a large proportion of otherwise very fine apples being injured.
The thinner the crop on a tree, the greater was the proportion of wormy apples. Some
varieties seem more liable to attack than others. With me the Greening seems always
to be the worst infested. The Baldwin, too, suffers a great deal, as well as the Roxbury
Russet. The Ribston Pippin, Blenheim, King and Cranberry appear to get off better.”
—A. W. Peart.

: “Craighurst, Simcoe Co., Ont.—Little damage from Codling Moth this year.”—G. C.
ASTON.

“ Hamilton, P.E.I., Sept. 14.—Where spraying is attended to, the Codling Moth isa
thing of the past.” —H. A. Stewart.

Tent CaTEerPILuARs (Clisiocampa).—These easily destroyed caterpillars have caused
much loss in several parts of Canada this year.

“Freeman, Halton Co., Ont.—The Tent Caterpillars have not been troublesomein the
Burlington district this year, but some ten or twelve miles north of here they almost
amounted to a plague, whole orchards, in some cases, being stripped of their leaves before
the owners realized the fact. There was then a general attack made on them, chiefly by
crushing their nests in the evenings and mornings. Spraying effectually disposes of them
with me.”—A. W. Peart.

“Berwick, King’s Co., N.S.—The Tent Caterpillar seems to thrive best in the villages.
It seldom becomes numerous in isolated orchards. I think the ornamental trees in towns
and villages prove a good breeding ground for thisinsect. The usual formula—4 ounces
of Paris green to 40 gallons of water—applied twice will exterminate this enemy.”—S.
C. Parker.

“ Alberton, P.E.I., Aug. 3.—The Tent Caterpillars seemed to be more numerous
than ever. They were the chief leaf-eaters this season.” Rev. A. E. Burke.

* Hamilton, P.E.I.—The most troublesome insect this season has been the Tent
Caterpillar.” —H. A. Srewarr.

“ Victoria, B.C.—Tent caterpillars have been very destructive to the foliage of fruit
trees in many places, especially Chilliwack, and I notice that the eggs are numerous.
everywhere in the orchards.”—R. M. Patmer.

Effective remedies for Tent Caterpillars are hand-picking of the eggs in winter and

‘the destruction of the colonies of young caterpillars when the young leaves are unfolding,
at which time they are conspicuous hy reason of the copious white silky web upon which
they rest. If not attended to at this time, spraying with Paris green disposes of them
easily.

Tue Eye-sporrep Bup-motu (Z'metocera ocellana, Schiff.) has been troublesome in
certain districts.

“St. Catharines, Lincoln Co., Ont.—I inclose a peach pest which I consider the ~
most dangerous insect I have met with.”—-A. Grass.

“Olinda, Essex Co., Ont.—I send you a number of peach twigs injured by a pest
which I have not noticed before. This spring a great many trees are badly infested, the
young shoots even being attacked, the insect boring down through them.”—J. O. DuKE.

‘“‘St-Henri de Montréal, Que., June 8.—I notice the bud-moth and leaf-roller have
been very bad in some orchards in this neighbourhood. JI have kept them subdued by
the use of Paris green and the Bordeaux mixture.”— R. Bropie.

“ Victoria, B.C.—I have found the Bud-moth is increasing in numbers in our
orchards. I hope that the use of Paris green in combination with the Bordeaux mixture
will soon become general in lower British Columbia, as the numerous leaf-eating pests
are becoming much more destructive.”—R. M. PALmMEr.

This insect is certainly a difficult one to cope with and also, from its habits of
attacking the flower buds and boring down into the fruit spurs, its injuries are frequently
very serious. The remedy which has given the best results is to spray very early, just
when the buds are bursting. The partially grown caterpillars pass the winter snuggly
ensconced in silken shelters on the twigs of trees which they infested the previous
autumn. About the time the buds open, they leave these shelters and crawl out to the
tips of the twigs where they do much harm to the unfolding buds.

252 EX PHRIMENTAL FARMS.

CANKER-WoRMS have been complained of as usual in many localities, and the
importance of early spraying while the caterpillars are very small has been again shown.
Two or three correspondents mention t! at they have been unable to control this insect,
even when spraying with a mixture strong enough to burn the foliage. A very serious
out-break occurred in Pelham township, Monck County, Ont., and another near
Fredericton, N.B.

THE CiGar Case-BEARER (Coleophora Fletcherella, Fernald) has been mentioned by
correspondents in all provinces in Eastern Canada, but no complaints of serious attack
have been received. Mr. Harold Jones, of Maitland, Grenville Co., Ont., noticed the
young Case-bearers moving from their winter resting places out to the buds on 2nd May
last. He sprayed at once with the kerosene emulsion (Riley-Hubbard formula), 1 to 12,
with the result of practically clearing his orchard of this insect.

THE OysTER-SHELL Bark-LousE (Mytilaspis pomorum, Bouché) continues to trouble
the apple grower in many districts. It occurs in every province of the Dominion and
spreads rapidly, particularly in neglected orchards.

“‘ Baddeck Forks, Victoria Co., N.S.—The scale insect is the greatest pest. All our
apple trees will be killed in a few years more if we cannot stop its ravages.”—A. B.
WATSON.

“ Nappan, Cumberland Co., N.S.—The apple tree bark-lice give me the most trouble
T used kerosene emulsion twice in June, but there are still many on the trees. Do you
think the application now of a mixture made up as follows would not be advisable:
concentrated lye, 34 lbs.; fish oil, 1 gallon; water, 8 gallons? It seems impossible to
get kerosene emulsion to all parts of the tree when in foliage. I do not think they are
troubled much with this pest in the Annapolis valley ; at least, I never noticed many
there. But, all through the country where I have been, trees are being killed or at
least stunted by the bark-louse.”—W. S. Brarr.

“ Berwick, King’s Co., N.S.—As usual the bark-louse gains ground on trees that
are not in good cultivation. Alkaline washes which are recommended will clean the trees
up completely, and I think that the thorough applications annually will also prevent
the work of the shot-borer (Xyleborus dispar, Fab.).”—S. C. PARKER.

“ Alberton, P.K.I.—If we cannot soon get means to destroy the Oyster-shell Bark-
louse, we shall have to give up raising apple trees.” —Joun T. Werks.

' “Lakeville, P.E.I.—Please send me receipt for wash to destroy bark-lice on apple
trees. They are fast destroying our trees.”—Joun J. McInnis.

“Freeman, Halton Co., Ont.—The Oyster-shell Bark-louse has had its day in this
district. There are but few left, and these only on neglected trees. Ten years ago they
threatened to sap the life out of the orchards.” A. W. Prarr. 2

The recognized remedies for the Oyster-shell Bark-louse are spraying the trees, before
the buds burst and again in June when the young are moving, with the Riley-Hubbard
kerosene emulsion (1 to 9). At the same time a healthy, vigorous growth should be
induced by judicious pruning of the trees, manuring the roots and cultivating the soil.

Several instances have been brought to my notice, which would indicate that trces
badly infested with the Oyster-shell Bark-lice, after having been sprayed with Bordeaux
mixture, were much freer from these insects. This was possibly due to the fact that
twigs bearing a coating of Bordeaux mixture were thereby rendered distasteful or
unsuitable for the young bark-lice when seeking a spot to settle.

The PEAR-TREE Siue (Lriccampa cerasi, Peck ), has been very abundant in Ontario,
Quebec and British Columbia. I cannot help thinking that the reason this pest of the
pear, plum and cherry is so prevalent every year, is that the late broods are neglected.
Spraying with the standard mixture of Paris green (1 pound in 200 gallons of water
with 1 pound of fresh lime) is always fatal to the larve.

““ Grimsby, Ont.—The Pear-tree Slug has been more destructive than usual. It has
skeletonized the leaves of the pear, plum and common cherry trees, and, where it has
‘been left unchecked, has done a great deal of damage in stunting the growth of the

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 258

trees. The second brood is more troublesome to us than the first, because at that season
fruit-growers are so busy that it is almost impossible to find time to spray with Paris
green.”—L. WooLvErTOoON.

“St. Catharines, Lincoln Co., Ont.—The Pear-tree Slug has done more damage than
most pests in this district, familiar as it is and easy to fight as itis. I think I am well
within the mark in saying that it has been far more destructive than in any season for the
past decade. The second brood worked very freely on the plum as well as on the quince,
cherry and pear, and thousands of young trees—particularly cherry—had their leaves
skeletonized.” Martin BurreE.t.

The Prum Wes-worm (Lyda rufipes, Marlatt).—When travelling through the
Mennonite country in Southern Manitoba in the first week of July last I noticed a great
deal of damage done to plum trees by the gregarious false-caterpillars of a saw-fly which
webbed together the leaves of small branches and soon stripped them of all green cellular
portions in a very similar manner to the larvee of the Cherry-tree Tortrix (Cacecia cera-
sivorana, Fitch). Upon examining the webs I found them to be filled with
enormous numbers of a false-caterpillar of a species of saw-fly belonging to
the genus JLyda, which was quite unknown to me. The larve were nearly
2 of an inch in length, grayish above, yellowish or pinkish below; head
yellow, thoracic shield and feet as well as the tip of anal segment, black ; pro-legs
wanting. They have two seven-jointed antenna-like appendages, protruding from the
front of the head, and also two others three-jointed, from each side of the last segment.
I was unable to rear the perfect insects, but I find a description of what is evidently the
same species by Prof. T. A. Williams in Bulletin 38, April, 1896, of the South Dakota
Experiment Station, in which the insect is described and figures are given of the perfect.
insect, the cluster of eggs and a bunch of sand cherry infested by the larve. It is de-
scribed as one of the most destructive insects attacking plums and cherries. It feeds
upon all the common forms both wild and cultivated. It is found most often on the
common wild plum (Prunus Americana, Marsh) and the sand cherry (Prunus pumila,
L.). Prof. Williams describes the mature insect as much flattened, with body, head,
antenne and feet shining black, legs reddish. He gives as the date of appearance of
the flies the second week of June. The larve which I found in Manitoba were full-
grown in the first week of July, and at that time most of the plum trees in the gardens.
of the Mennonites over an area of many miles were almost entirely defoliated.

The eggs are deposited in close masses along the under side of the mid-rib of the
leaf, the long axis of the eggs lying parallel with the mid-rib. The younger leaves are
invariably selected, and the eggs laid before the leaf has expanded. Immediately on
hatching, the young larve begin to spin a web and feed through or crawl over to the
upper surface of the leaf. As they continue to grow, they travel to other leaves and
envelop all in a tough web not unlike that of the tent caterpillar. A large colony will
spread over the whole side of a tree before the insects become full-grown. When ready
to pupate, the larvee go to the ground and gradually envelop themselves in cocoons,
turn to pupe and emerge again [the next year] in the late spring or early summer as
mature insects.”—(South Dakota Huperimental Station, Bulletin 48).

As a remedy, plum trees should be sprayed with Paris green or dusted with white
hellebore as soon as the webs appear.

It is just possible that this insect may be the Lyda fasciata of Norton, described
and figured by Prof. A. 8. Packard on page 524 of his Morest Insects under ‘ Cherry
Insects.” But, until specimens are secured of the Manitoba insect, it will be impossible
to identify the species with certainty. From the manner of occurrence of the colonies
seen in the Mennonite villages, the idea of an imported species is suggested, such as Lyda
pyri, Schrank, mentioned in Miss Ormerod’s last report, as having caused a similar
injury in English orchards. Synonyms of the latter are also L. clypeata, Klug ; L.
fasciata, Curtis and Westwood, and Pamphilius flaviventris, Cameron.

The San Jost Scaue (Aspidiotus perniciosus, Comstock).—An important discovery
has been made by Mr. R. M. Palmer of undoubted specimens of the San José scale in Van-
couver Island. From the appearance of infested wood forwarded, the pest must have.

g54 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

existed for some years on the trees where it was
found. So that there might be no mistake as
to the identity of the species, specimens were
sent to Dr. Howard, United States Entomol-
ogist, who confirmed Mr. Palmer’s opinion.*
In a most interesting report sent to me by
Mr. Palmer on the insect injuries of the year,
he writes of the matter as follows :-—
“Victoria, B.C., Dec. 10.—I am sorry to
report that I have found San José Scale in two
orchards on Vancouver Island. The infested
trees have been destroyed, and, of course,
trees and bushes in their vicinity will be
closely looked after the coming season. I
may say that the popular opinion that San
José Scale will kill the trees in three years, is
not borne out by observations made here on
these infested trees. One of them, at any
rate, had apparently been infested for a much
longer period, and it was still growing. I
find it difficult to detect the presence of the
scales on the trees, or, rather, very close
observation is required. In both of the above
” cases my attention was drawn to them by the
characteristic marking of the fruit growing on
the trees, caused by the insect.”
“Victoria, B.C., Dec. 29.—Re San José
Fig. 14.—Pear attacked by San José Scale ; Seale: I send you part of the infested wood
b, scale much enlarged. and twigs I have. It is rather dried up now,
but when fresh the characteristic marking of the twigs, leaves and fruit, due to the work
of the insect, was very evident, and there was no doubt as to the identity. It was the
bright discoloration of the fruit which first drew my attention to the presence of the
insects in both the cases found. A microscopic examination was also made on my return
to Victoria, which confirms this opinion.” ——R. M. PaLMer.

The limits of distribution of the San José Scale, like those of all other insects, are
undoubtedly controlled to a large extent by climate. It has been found from long-con-
tinued observation that both animals and plants are restricted in their distribution to
what have been called “life zones,’ which are determined, according to Dr. C. H.
Merriam, the eminent zoologist, “by the total quantity of heat during the season of
growth and reproduction.” The San José Scale occurs more or less in all the States
lying to the south of the great lakes, and although the data upon which life zones could
be laid down accurately in Canada are too meagre to be of use in consideration of the
question whether this insect would be likely to spread and become a serious enemy of
the fruit grower in Canada, there is no doubt that it must be regarded as a very pos-
sible danger, at any rate in those parts of Ontario which lie along the north shore of
Lake Erie, extending perhaps from the County of Essex to the County of Wentworth.
It was supposed at one time that the San José Scale would not thrive east of the Rocky
Mountains, but we now know that this supposition was erroneous ; therefore, all fruit
growers, particularly in that part of Ontario mentioned above, are urged to be keenly on
the alert to watch for and report promptly any occurrence of this or any other scale
insect which resembles it, either in their orchards or upon young nursery stock imported
from the United States. In cases of doubt, specimens should be forwarded for examina-
tion, as soon as detected.

*Since the above was written two other instances have come to my knowledge of trees in Canada being
infested with San José Scale, and samples have been received and examined. One infestation is at
Chatham, Ont., the other at Niagara, Ont. Every care is being taken in both places, to eradicate this
serious enemy of the fruit grower.—J. F.

<a

a a

=

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND ROTANIST. 255

ftemedy.—A very complete series of experiments was conducted, not only at
Washington, but also in many other parts of the Eastern United States, in which every
material known as an insecticide for scale insects was tried, and Dr. Howard’s final
conclusions are now of value to us. He says: ‘“ With the San José Scale the most
satisfactory work can be done only with a winter wash ; for this species may be found
in various stages of developnent at any time through the summer months, and an
emulsion spray at any given time will kill only a small proportion: Moreover, the young
larva of the San José Scale settles almost at once and immediately begins secreting a
dense scale which after 48 hours is practically impervious to the ordinary emulsion
diluted so as not to injure the foliage.”

As stated above, the only satisfactory treatment for this insect is a winter wash,
and the question naturally arises. Which is the best? Dr. Howard answers this for
us: ‘ But one absolutely satisfactory winter wash has been found. This is whale-oil
soap (not containing more than 20 per cent of water) a pound and a half or two pounds
to a gallon of water. This mixture killed every insect upon the trees to which it was
applied, as was proved by a very thorough examination. Good whale-oil soap can hardly
be bought for less than four cents a pound by the barrel, and this makes a thorough
winter treatment an expensive matter. The best recommendation that can be made
from the present outlook, however, is to use this mixture soon after the leaves fall in
the autumn, and then, if examination reveals any survivors, to repeat it shortly before
the buds open in spring.”

The San José Scale is one of the most injurious insects which have been found
on fruit trees, and, should it be allowed to establish itself in our Canadian orchards, it
will be the cause of great loss to our fruit growers. It is, therefore, imperative that all
should exercise the utmost care in examining their trees if they have been lately
imported, and in buying trees only from nurserymen whose stock is known to be free of
infestation. The home-grown trees of all of our Canadian nurseries are certainly much
safer in this respect than those of any in the United States.

The San José Scale is a small flat scale insect, only about ;; of an inch in diameter
and so hard to detect on the bark of trees that it can hardly be recognized without a
magnifying glass. The best indication of its presence is the dirty grayish appearance
‘of the bark as if ashes had been dusted over the trees.

The Prum Curcutio (Conotrachelus nenuphar, Hbst.).—Many reports from all parts
of Eastern Canada referred to the Plum Curculio as abundant, but the injury was not
appreciable this year, owing tothe enormouscrop. Mr. L. Wolverton says: “The Plum
Curculio has not been quite as troublesome this season, perhaps because of the abundant
crop in this section, which made its attacks less noticeable.” Mr. 8. C. Parker, of
Berwick, N.S., also says: “The Plum Curculios were plentiful, but could’ not destroy
enough to lessen materially the enormous crop of plums. Some of our plum growers pick
up carefully all the dropped plums, and claim that they can thereby keep their plum
orchards free from the Curculio.”

The Grape Puyiioxera (Phylloxera vastatrix, Planch.).—This insect, so well known
by name from its enormous injuries to the vineyards in Europe, is seldom the cause of
serious injury in Canada. It, however, attracted much attention inthe Grimsby district last
summer. Mr. Wolverton reported it as “unusually abundant on the leaves of grape
vines throughout this district. In many cases hundreds of vines on one plantation had
their foliage covered with the galls of this louse. JI examined some sections of these
galls under the microscope and could see great numbers of the eggs and several fully
developed insects. I have not recommended any special remedy, because I note what
you say that the Phylloxera is not to be looked upon as an important enemy in our
Canadian vineyards, as, although a native, it has not in the past caused serious loss. I
have never observed any of the variety which affects the roots, nor have I had any one
report it to me.”

The Pracwpark Borer (PAleotribus liminaris, Harris).—I have referred in
previous reports to the extensive injuries due to this minute insect in the peach orchards
of the Niagara district, and also to some successful experiments carried out by Mr. Carl
E. Fisher, of Queenston, Ont., with an alkaline wash, to which Paris green, lime and

256 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

carbolic acid were added. This wash has been again used successfully during the past.
season by Mr. Fisher, who writes: ‘The last wash I used for the Peach Bark beetle was.

the dead shot remedy. Every tree it was tried on is free from the little beetles.” This
remedy is applicable for many other bark-boring beetles, such as the Shot-borer of the
apple and plum. The formula, as last uscd by Mr. Fisher, is as follows :—

Washing soda, 5 pounds; soft soap, 3 quarts (or hard soap, 3 pounds); water to

make 6 gallons ; air-slaked lime sufficient to give the mixture the consistency of thick
paint; finally, add 4 ounces of Paris green and 1 ounce of carbolic acid. To be applied
with a whitewash brush, thoroughly covering the trunk of the tree and a few inches up

the limbs. The first application should be made as soon as the beetles appear in the:

spring, sometimes as early as the middle of March. Two or perhaps three applications,
a month apart, may be necessary.

The Brack Peacu Apuis (Aphis persice-niger, EK. F. Smith).—Letters from Essex
County and a single one from St. Catharines show that a good deal of injury is being
caused in young peach orchards by the Black Peach Aphis. Up to the present no
satisfactory remedy has been applied, but experiments have been arranged to be carried
out next season. The application of kainit, as advised by Prof. J. B. Smith and men-
tioned in my last report, is specially commended to the attention of peach growers.
Prof. Smith says: “In our State, on light soil I advise about 10 pounds of kainit per
tree, covering the probable extent of the root system—this for a tree 4 to 6 inches in
diameter and in bearing—the application to be made in spring, when the trees are leafing
out. In our orchards the kainit has proved successful wherever used. Dr. Erwin F.
Smith recommends ground tobacco, and so does Prof. Alwood, of Virginia.”

THE APPLE MAGGOT.
(Trypeta pomonella, Walsh.)

Infested Apple. Perfect fiy.
Fie. 15.—Appite Maaeor,

Attack.—Slender, white or greenish white footless maggots; when full-grown, about +
of an inch in length by ;1, of an inch in width, tapering gradually to the head and cut
off abruptly behind ; burrowing in all directions through the flesh of apples, feeding
upon the pulp and leaving brown channels. There are sometimes as many as a dozen
maggots in a single apple, but one is enough to render it worthless. The eggs are
inserted beneath the skin of the fruit by a two-winged fly with a sharp ovipositor. The
young maggots which hatch from these become full-grown in about six weeks, causing
the fruit to ripen prematurely and drop to the ground, when the maggots work their
way out and entering the soil a short distance, change to pale coloured puparia, inside
which the maggots remain unchanged until the following spring. The pupa state is
assumed only a few days before the perfect insects appear.

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 257

The fly of the Apple Maggot (Fig. 15, 5) is a pretty little insect described as follows
by Prof. Harvey, of Maine, who published a most complete study of this pest in the
“Annual Report of the Maine State College for 1889”: “The perfect insect is a two-
winged fly somewhat smaller than the house-fly, readily recognized by its general black
colour ; yellowish head and legs ; dark feet ; greenish prominent eyes; white spot on
the back and upper part of the thorax ; three white bands across the abdomen of the
male and four across the abdomen of the female, and four black bands across the wings,
resembling the outline of a turkey.”

The injury done to the apple crop by the Apple Maggot in the states of New York,
Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont are well known, but, outside of these States,
although the insect is common and feeds in the larval form upon the fruit of the haw-
thorn (Crategus) over a large area of country, there is no record of its having attacked
cultivated apples to any appreciable extent. During the past summer, however, infested
apples were received from Dr. D. Young, of Adolphustown, Lennox Co., Ont., north of
Lake Ontario, with the following letter, which is the first record of its injurious occur-
rence in Canada :—

* Adolphustown, 31st October.—I send you apples injured by worms of some kind
from a tree that heretofore always produced very clean and smooth fruit. Kindly tell
me what the worm is and what remedy to apply. I spread round the trees which bore
the infested fruit ten or twelve wagon loads of barn-yard manure in the spring of 1895
and again in 1896. I fear this may have enticed the insect. What gives me this idea is
that I have two trees, a Golden Russet and a Winesap, that always produced clean
fruit till we put a pig pen and yard right between them, the roots running under the
pen and yard where the soilis immensely rich. Since the pigs were kept there, the fruit
on these two trees has been very poor, and this year was entirely worthless on the
Golden Russet. Although heavily loaded, there was not on the tree one good apple,
and the Winesap was nearly as bad. It was heavily loaded too, but I think not one
in fifty was good for anything. Yet the apples on the other Golden Russet and Wine-
sap trees near by were very fine.”—Dr. D. Youna.

A little later Dr. Young sent me a good supply of infested apples, with the state-
ment that the maggots were working in other varieties than those mentioned. No living
maggots were found in these, but two dead specimens served to identify the species in
confirmation of the opinion formed from the very characteristic work: of the larve
in the fruit.

There is only one brood of this insect, but the eggs are laid by the females during a
very long period, namely, from the beginning of July till frost sets in. The flies, which
are produced from early ripening varieties of apples, appearing at a correspondingly
early season the following year, and those from late varieties lay the eggs which produce
the maggots found in the stored apples during the winter. Prof. Harvey says: “We
have never seen the exit holes in hanging fruit, and believe the maggots do not drop,
but go into the ground from the fallen fruit. Their presence causes the fruit to mature
earlier. Fruit picked from the tree may contain larve, and often stored or marketed
fruit is alive with maggots. Apples apparently sound when gathered may, by the
presence of eggs or young larve, afterwards become hopelessly involved. The develop-
ment of the maggot is slower in late and hard fruits.”

When infested fruit is stored, the maggots emerge as they become full-grown and
turn to puparia inside the barrels or bins.

Remedies.—As the egg of this insect is laid beneath the skin of the apple, it is
evident that spraying with poisonous applications would be useless. The remedy which
is most relied on by those who have had experience with the insect, is the prompt
destruction of windfalls, so as to prevent the maggots going into the ground. This can
be done by keeping a sufficient number of pigs, sheep or other stock in the orchard. If
this is inconyenient, the more expensive operation of collecting by hand and destroying
or feeding to stock must be rigorously practised if this pest is to be controlled. The refuse
from bins or barrels should, of course, also be dealt with in some way to prevent the
insects coming to maturity. Prof. Harvey says emphatically : ‘The gathering of wind-
falls for the express purpose of checking 7rypeta has been tried and found effectual.
We firmly believe we have in the careful destruction of the windfalls, the means of

8c—17

258 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

destroying the pest. If windfalls are left lying in an orchard, the maggots will leave them

and enter the ground; but they always remain near the surface, so that deep spading or

ploughing would bury most of them so deeply that the flies would be unable to emerge.
most useful practice also is the penning up of poultry beneath infested trees; these will
scratch out and devour large numbers of the insects.”

It is hardly likely that the flies were attracted by the odour of the manure applied
by Dr. Young to some of his trees or by the pig-pen beneath others, but the observation
is well worthy of being remembered in case the Apple Maggot spreads and becomes more
destructive in Canada. A characteristic of the occurrence of this insect is its slowness
in spreading from one locality to another, from orchard to orchard, or even from variety
to variety and from tree to tree in an orchard. It is said to be largely confined to
sheltered locations and sandy soils.

THE APPLE FRUIT-MINER.

Fig. 16.—Apples injured by Apple Fruit-miner.

Attack.—Small caterpillars tunnelling in all directions through the flesh of apples,
discolouring them and rendering the fruit unfit for use ; when full-grown, they are a
little over a quarter of an inch in length, dirty white in colour, tinged with pink just
before spinning their cocoons. Head and a small shield at the end of the body, dark
brown, somewhat resembling the caterpillar of the Codling Moth, but only about half its
size when full-grown, and with the body much more tapering to each end. When ready
to spin up, these caterpillars leave the fruit and make cocoons which in nature are pro-
bably placed in crevices of the bark in the same way as those of the Codling Moth.

Fig. 17.—Apple injured by Apple Fruit-miner (inside).

Nothing is known of the egg-laying habits of the moth from which the cater-
pillars spring, but, from the appearance of the infested fruit at the entrance of the tunnels,
it would appear possible that the young caterpillar may live at first for a short time on
the foliage or beneath a leaf attached by it to the fruit. A point of entry is frequently
marked by several very small tunnels opening over the surface of a comparatively large
area one-eighth of an inch to one-quarter of an inch in diameter, as if the insect had fed

Ee a a

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 259

there for some time. With the growth of the fruit, this point becomes the centre of one
of several—sometimes 3 or 4 on a single apple—conspicuous depressions, by which the
apples are much distorted ; the blackened skin at the botton of these depressions is also
frequently further discoloured by a white deposit, probably consisting of dried-up juice
from the apple, which has oozed from the wound.

This is a most serious enemy of the apple grower on the Pacific coast, and it is to
be hoped that every effort will be made next June to discover the method of egg-laying
and the early habits of the young caterpillar. As the injury is done chiefly inside the
fruit where the insect cannot be reached, it is probable that any practical active remedy
will réquire to be applied at or soon after the time the eggs are laid.

It is strange that this insect, which injures the fruit of the apple in such a very
similar way to that of the Apple Maggot (Zrypeta pomonella, Walsh), should have
broken out in British Columbia just at the same time as the latter insect was discovered
in Ontario as a pest of cultivated apples.

It is probable that both of these insects are native species which are abundant in
their wild food plants, the Apple Maggot in the fruit of hawthorn, and the Apple Fruit-
miner in the wild crab (Pirus rivularis, Dougl.), and that the habit of attacking culti-
vated apples is exceptional with both; but, as 7'rypeta has shown that when once this
bad habit is acquired it is very persistent although local, no effort should be spared to
to find out as soon as possible with regard to this new enemy, all that can be known of
its life habits, so as to arrive at a remedy.

As far as reports have been received, the injuries of this insect have not been
noticed in the interior of British Columbia. Mr. Thomas G. Earl, the owner of a
beautiful orchard at Lytton, on the Fraser River, just within the limits of the arid climate
which characterizes the Interior Plateau of the province, says :—‘‘I am happy to say I
am not troubled with the worm you mention. I have seen it at Chilliwack and Agassiz.”

The following interesting letters will show the serious nature of this new pest, and
also give all that is actually known of the life history :—

“ Victoria, B.C., July 17.—I send two specimens of infested apples forwarded to me
from Chilliwack. Can you let me know what has caused the injury?”—R. M. Paumer.

** Victoria, B.C., Aug. 20.—Mr. Gibson has been looking after a number of speci-
mens of the apple caterpilJars from Chilliwack, and has succeeded in getting some cocoons.
I hardly think the moths will emerge till spring.” —-R. M. PaLmer.

* Agassiz, B.C., Aug. 12.—I send you, under another cover, some apples infested
with a worm. This appears to be very prevalent in some districts in British Columbia
this year. I noticed a few cases in previous years, but these were so few that I did not
trouble about them, but this year it is a pest.” —-Tuos. A. SHARPE.

“‘Spence’s Bridge, B.C., Sept. 15.—I collected another box of apples infested with that
new pest and have mailed them to you from Agassiz. I spent last Friday in Victoria,
most of the time in the Department of Agriculture and with Mr. Anderson at his house.
Mr. Anderson’s assistant showed me several of the cocoons of this new pest in the apple,
which seems to me to be much more injurious than the Codling Moth. It is a lepidop-
terous insect which, judging from the larva and cocoons I have seen, is about half the
size of the Codling Worm. The cocoons are closely spun inside, with an outer covering
of whitish silk of a neat and open pattern. The larva, as you will see, eats channels all
through the flesh of the fruit, completely spoiling the apple for use. At the Department
of Agriculture here the cocoons had been obtained by putting the apples uncut into a
large glass jar and tying it over with gauze. As the larve matures, it finds its way out
and spins its cocoons at the sides of the bottom of the jar.”—-Dr. Wa. SaunpERs.

*‘ Agassiz, B.C.—I sprayed when the blossoms had fallen and once when the fruit
was as large as a small crab. I dealt effectually with the caterpillar, and if Paris green
were a remedy for this pest, I should have expected it to be killed at the same time, but
it was not, or at least there were a great many left. I gathered a number of apples
that I knew were infested and put them in a glass jar, covering it with thin muslin. I
also mounted specimens, but have found out nothing definite. Of some varieties of
apples, such as St. Lawrence, Wellington, American Pippin, Stark, Maiden’s Blush and
Fall Pippin, more than half the crop was injured. Other varieties suffered less, though
to a considerable extent ; and some varieties, like Winter St. Lawrence, Salome, Mann,

8e—174

260 EHX PERIMENTAL FARMS.

Yellow Bellflower, Scott’s Winter and Sutton Beauty, were practically uninjured. I
hear from some purchasers that many apples sold are injured by the maggot, which goes.
to show that in some cases at least they are taking no care for next year, as in late
picked specimens I found very few worms, but evidence of their having been in the
fruit.”—Tuos. A. SHARPE.

“ Victoria, B.C., Dec. 10.—Your valued favour of the 30th ult. to Hand and contents.
noted. In reply re ‘Apple Fruit-miner, Mr. E. A. C. Gibson has been making a special
study of this pest, and any information or specimens which I have obtained “have been
turned over to him. As I know he intends sending you a full account of his work, I
do not wish to anticipate him, so will only say that the insect has been specially
destructive in the Chilliwack valley, and in the Mission City and Agassiz districts, but
to a lesser extent is widely distributed in the lower part of the province, as I have
received or observed specimens and their injuries at Ladner’s Landing, Victoria, Cow-
ichan and the Islands, as well as the lower Fraser valley. Iam of opinion that it is a
native insect. Its proper food is the fruit of the native crab apple. This Mr. Gibson’s.
observations will determine.”—R. M. PaLmer.

“ Victoria, B.C.,Dec. 11.—I remember having seen these insects in the native crabs
for a long time, but apparently they did not attack cultivated apples until recently, or if
they did it was not noticeable. At Chilliwack, however, last summer I saw the effects
of their ravages on the orchards of that place.”—J. R. ANDERSON.

“ Victoria, B.C., Dec. 16.—This insect has certainly occurred and been noted
before this year, but I do not think it has till now caused any material damage. I
secured most of my infested fruit from Mr. Kipp, of Chilliwack, who says : ‘ It is general
throughout the upper end of my district,* and I noticed it at Agassiz as well on August
8th.’ Mr. Kipp also says, in answer to some questions I addressed to him: ‘I noticed
it first about June 20th, found the worm, which was very small at that time, with
blackish head, the other extremity the same, the body the same colour as the flesh of
the apple (Gravenstein). Later in August the worm was about one-eight of an inch
_ long; body, brown. i found worms from time to time through September. In October
I could find no more worms, but late in October or about the first of November hundreds
of small moths (white) were flying about mostly all day. Gravenstein, Ben Davis,
Russets, Baldwin (slightly), Leas Sweet, and various other varieties I cannot name,
were attacked. 13 Seventy- five per cent of my fruit was affected.’ I
myself have received specimens ‘of fruit attacked by this insect from Hornby Island as
well as Chilliwack. I am sending you by the present opportunity under separate cover
specimens of wild crab apples which have been altogether spoilt, as I think, by this same
insect, and a piece of an apple, inside which I found the cocoon, which you say you
would like to have. I found cocoons in several others as well.”—E. A. CaREw-GInson.

Mr. Carew-Gibson has also kindly prepared the following interesting note on the
subject :—

“ Nore on A New Appte Fruit Pest in British CoLuMBIA.

“The new apple pest which has this summer more strongly forced itself upon our
notice than previously, owing to the loss it has occasioned to the fruit crop in some parts
of this province, is, I believe, an indigenous insect, as I have traced it back to what I
believe is its original home, 7.¢., the wild crab apple swamps. In the larval stage this
insect is very small, when full-grown only measuring a quarter of an inch in length.
The larve are of a dullish white colour tinged with brownish green, excepting the head,
a broken line on the top of the first segment, thoracic feet and last segment with hind
pro-legs, all brown. These larve diminish in size towards their extremities and can in
this way be easily distinguished from the larve of the Codling Moth, which, besides, are
very much larger when full-grown. A nearly full-grown larva on being caged on the flesh
of a freshly cut apple soon disappeared from view ; it started by chewing the apple pulp
till it had a large mouthful, when it drew back its head from the hole thus made and
disgorged the pulp, thereby giving the body room to get farther into the apple, this

* A rich district on the Fraser River extending from Sumas Lake to Popcum, a distance of about 20

miles, with the town of Chilliwack on the Fraser River situated almost centrally. ;

\

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 261

operation was repeated continuously and the insect was buried out of sight when
looked for eighteen hours later. The larve apparently enter the fruit from the side,
and eat their way into the interior by tunnelling the fruit in all directions. They
sometimes reach the core and feed on the apple pips, but more often keep to the
more fleshy part of the fruit, which is thus entirely spoilt, as the passages made by
these insects soon turn brown and start decay throughout the fruit. When fully
grown the larva emerges at the side of the fruit, and probably lowers itself to the
ground before spinning up. I judge this to be the case, as by holding the spinning
thread of a fully grown larva which had just emerged from the fruit I induced it to
lower itself by its thread over six feet. It then spins a very beautiful white cocoon of
an open-work pattern, and inside and separate from this, it spins another close-fitting
white covering. These cocoons measure about three-eighths of an inch long. I have,
found cocoons of this insect spun up inside the core of several apples. It will be easily
seen, however, that this is only possible in the more open cored varieties of fruit, and
the chances of survival are very slight for those following this plan. I have specimens
of this insect which spun up as early as August 6th, and also had samples of fruit con-
taining larve apparently not full-grown on November 9th. The only sign that the
fruit is infested at an early stage of its attack is by the exudation of juice from the
fruit at the point where the insect entered, which generally dries up in the form
of alittle bubble; later, when the larva has left, the small hole in the side of the
fruit through which it escapes can be readily seen on a close examination. The rotting
of the fruit along the passages made by this insect may be caused by spores of fungi
lodging where the apple skin is pierced, and thereby decay working its way along the open
passages. My reason for thinking that this insect is indigenous is because I have several
cocoons from infested fruit of wild crab apple trees. I have often in previous years
noticed that a great deal of the fruit of the wild crab apples is completely spoilt, and
have arrived at the conclusion that it is our new enemy which is responsible for the
damage. JI took some infested wild crab apple fruit and placed it in a jar on Septem-
ber 13th, and on September 25th I had three nicely spun cocoons in the bottom
of the jar. The wild crab apple fruit which is affected, when ripe, turns quite black,
instead of being of the ordinary brown colour, and one sometimes sees a whole tree
with scarcely a sound berry on it.”—-E. A. Carew-GIBson.

The fruit of Pirws rivularis is borne in bunches of about a dozen together on
slender stalks over an inch in length; each individual fruit is a small, berry-like, ovate,
oblong pome, about half an inch in length by three-eighths in width.

Besides the above insects, there are some other caterpillars which injure apples, the
life histories of which require working out, owing to the possibility of their becoming of
economic importance. At Victoria in 1895 I found specimens of a small caterpillar
feeding on the surface of the fruit, particularly at the calyx end eating the skin and
mining a short distance beneath it; very similar larve were also received during the
past summer from Mr. C. P. Newman, of Lachine Locks, Que., but some of these worked
entirely beneath the skin, making large blotch mines, but not running nearly so deeply
into the flesh as the British Columbian Apple Fruit-miner.

Mr, Palmer says as follows on the subject of the insect enemies of fruit in British
Columbia: ‘The Codling Moth has been reported from several places, but after careful
examination of infested or damaged specimens of fruit, I have failed up to the present
to find the true Codling Moth. Still considerable damage was caused by worms in
apples (distinct from the Apple Fruit-miner) of two or more different species and I hope
with Mr. Gibson’s aid and your special knowledge that we shall be able next season to
determine what the pests actually are (as by that time we ought to have specimens of
the perfect insects) and the proper methods of dealing with them.”—-R. M. PaMer.

As up to the present, owing ‘to the energy of the provincial Department of Agri-
culture of British Columbia, the Codling Moth has been prevented from being introduced,
as far as can be learnt, into that province, and, as larve of the Apple Fruit-miner have been
mistaken for those of the Codling Moth and its work for that of the Apple Maggot, it
may be well to point out some of the important characters in which these three insects
differ. ‘There should be no trouble in distinguishing them in all their stages

.

262 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS

~~’ The Apple Fruit-miner and the Apple Maggot injure apples in a very similar manner,
tunnelling the pulp of the fruit in every direction, leaving brown coloured channels with

here and there rather large chambers. The injury of the former is generally rather —

less extensive than that of the latter.

The two insects, however, are quite different in appearance: the Appie Maggot is
as its name implies a footless maggot which changes beneath the surface of the ground
to a smooth whitish puparium, inside which it remains unchanged until the following
spring ; while on the other hand, the Apple Fruit-miner is a caterpillar with a distinct
head, three pairs of thoracic feet on the segments next to the head, four pairs of short
fleshy pro-legs under the middle segments and a similar pair of pro-legs at the end of the
body. This turns to a chrysalis in autumn inside a close white cocoon which further is
surrounded by an outer web or loose net work of white silk.

The Codling Moth, again, differs as to its work from both of the above. Instead of
tunnelling in all directions through the flesh and destroying the whole apple, the cater-
pillar always works to the core and feeds upon the seeds, in most cases entering the
fruit from the calyx end, and emerges through a hole straight from the core to one
side. The larve of the Apple Fruit-miner and of the Codling Moth are both cater-
pillars, but that of the Codling Moth when full-grown is nearly three times the size of
the Apple Fruit-miner, and is spotted with black, bristle-bearing points. The cocoons,
too, are very unlike; while that of the Apple Fruit-miner is one-quarter of an inch
long and surrounded by a white, lace-like outer netting, that of the Codling Moth is
half an inch long and brown and close, with many particles of the bark upon which it
is spun worked into it.

Specimens of the Apple Fruit-miner confined in a jar upon moist earth and with
pieces of bark, invariably chose the latter to spin upon, the cocoons being generally
placed deep in a crevice or under a flake of bark.

Remedy.—Until more is known of the habits of this insect, it would not be wise to
make more than general suggestions as to a remedy. Mr. Sharpe mentions that he
sprayed his trees for caterpillars, and that the fruit was badly infested on trees so
treated, but no comparison is drawn with trees that were not sprayed. From so much
of the life history as is known, spraying with Paris green, lime and water, in the same
manner as for the Codling Moth, soon after the flowers fall, with two or three applica-
tions a week apart later, would seem to be the most reasonable method, and certainly
would, at any rate, have the great advantage of destroying several other kinds of biting
insects.

Description of caterpillar of the Apple Fruit-miner from Chilliwack, B.C., made
August 3, 1896, after it had emerged from apple :—

Nearly cylindrical, slender, almost three-eighths of an inch long when extended, by ©

zz in diameter. Head small, fuscous. Thoracic shield fuscous, with a white stripe in
centre. Anal plate conspicuous, and on the anterior half of segment 13 is along, narrow
chitinous blotch, similar to the anal shield and probably representing the expanded bases
of tubercles. Body whitish, washed all over with pink; bristles white and slender ;
spiracles inconspicuous ; surface of the body uneven; intrasegmental folds deep, as also
a median transversal fold on each segment. There is a row of deep depressions above
and below the stigmatal fold.

When received on July 24, 1896, the above larva was white in general colour, with
black head and thoracic feet. Two larve spun on 4th and 5th of August.

A cocoon crushed by accident on October 31 showed that the pupal stage had been
assumed. ‘The cocoon is double, consisting of a close, dense, white, spindle-shaped inside
cocoon, one-quarter of an inch in length, inclosed in a loose bag of open network of large
meshes ; this is three-eighths of an inch by one-eighth. The inside cocoon is apparently
open at one end, for, although no opening can be seen, in nearly every instance the larval
skin and head are pushed out into the outer cocoon.

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 263

THE HORN-FLY.
(Hematobia serrata, Rob.-Desv.)

The invasion of Canada by this pernicious insect was first noticed in 1892, and
every year since that date losses from the irritating bites of the Horn-fly have been
complained of by cattle owners in some new parts of the country. The hope expressed
in my annual report for 1893 that the numbers of the flies would after two or three years
become less and Jess in any invaded district, has, to a large measure, been realized. In
the province of Ontario, where the first Canadian specimens of the Horn-fly were noticed,
there is a decided diminution of the numbers of this pest. Among answers to the
questions sent out by Prof. Panton of Guelph, to farmers in different parts of the pro-
vince, 25 reports were received of its increase and 46 of its decrease, and 25 correspon-
dents noticed no change in the numbers. The following extracts are also of interest :—

“ London, Ont., Dec. 7.—The Horn-fly was very conspicuous in its season, but the
alarm concerning it seems to have abated.”—J. DEARNESS.

“Sackville, Westmoreland Co., IN.B., July 13.—I mail to your address under
separate cover several specimens of a very troublesome fly known here as the Horn-fly.
They gather in large clusters about the base of the horns and around the root of the tail,
also under the flanks. They are evidently the cause of a very decided decrease in the
flow of milk among the cows of this place. If you have a remedy for them, please let
me know as soon as possible.”—Joun L. Fawcert.

“ Pointe de Bute, Westmoreland Co., N.B.—The Horn-fly was not quite so trouble-
some to the cattle this year in New Brunswick as last, but for several weeks was very
active. Very little was done to protect the cows. The impression is growing that the
fly will disappear in a short time.” —Howarp TRUEMAN.

“ Yarmouth, N.S.—The prescription I used for the Horn-fly was taken from the
Country Gentleman :—‘Take equal parts of lard and coal oil with a few drops of carbolic
acid, and apply every few days as needed.’ Any soft grease may be used instead of
lard. I observed drinking at a public fountain near my place two yokes of oxen, the
bodies of one yoke covered with thousands of these flies, while the others were entirely
free from them. ‘What do you use for the Horn-fly? I asked from the driver of the
former yoke. ‘Fish oil,’ was the reply. Whale oil soap would, no doubt, be effective.
Along the sea coast fish oil is cheap and easily procured, and it is probably more durable
than coal oil and grease.” —-CuarLes E. Brown.

“ Berwick, King’s Co., N.S.—The Horn-fly was very abundant. I found an English
sheep dip (E. Liddle & Co.’s., I think,) applied to the cows with a brush about once in
three days the cheapest and best preventive I have yet tried.”—S. C. ParkER.

“Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Co., N.S.—The Horn-fly was not nearly so numerous
nor blood-thirsty as last year, and I hope will disappear in a year or two.”—Davip G.
CRAWFORD. )

“ Glace Bay, Cape Breton, N.S.—The Horn-fly continues to give us some trouble,
but not quite as muchas at first. Various methods are adopted to defeat them, all fairly
successful.”—J as. W. Epwarps.

“ Charlottetown, P.E.I.—The Horn-fly did a great deal of damage here during the
summer of 1895. I think a reasonable estimate for milch cows would be about one-sixth
shrinkage in the milk flow, and fattening cattle did not do well. Last season (1896) they
were not nearly so bad. I hope they have had their day and will not show up in the
spring.”—Tuos. J. Ditton.

“ Alberton, P.E.I.—The Horn-fly was, many say, as bad as last year. My own
personal observation points to a decrease, but others say to the contrary. Our farmers
are at a loss for a cheap effective remedy. Kerosene emulsion, fish oil, vegetable oils are
all ineffectual to completely keep off the pest.”—Rev. A. E. Burks.

Remedies.—There is nothing new to record in the way of remedies. As previously
stated (Experimental Farm Report, 1893, page 186), almost any greasy substance
rubbed on the animals will keep the flies away for several days. A number of experi-
ments were tried in the field with the result that train oil alone and train oil or lard

264 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

‘
with a little sulphur, oil of tar or carbolic acid added, will keep the flies away for from
three to six days, while with a small proportion of carbolic acid it will have a healing effect
upon any sores which may have formed. ‘Train oil or fish oil seem to be more lasting in,
their effects than any others experimented with.

The safest and most convenient way of using carbolic acid is in the shape of
carbolized oil, which can be prepared by dissolving one ounce of crystallized or liquefied
carbolic acid in 1 quart of oil. ‘Train oil, fish oil, tanner’s oil, olive oil or any other fixed
oil will answer ; but not coal oil, as carbolic acid is not soluble in this liquid. The crude
carbolic acid does not dissolve easily in fixed oils, and, therefore, must not be used.
Instances have been reported to me of injury to animals and the hands of operators,
when the crude has been substituted for the purer form of carbolic acid.

Mr. Robert Elliott, the herdsman at the Central Experimental Farm, finds that the
most convenient mixture which is effectual is 10 pounds of lard mixed with one
pound of pine tar.

OE AAA Eee

The practical management of the Apiary during the past season, as heretofore, has
been satisfactorily carried on by Mr. John Fixter, the farm foreman. Mr. Fixter has
been of great service in showing visitors over the bee-yard and explaining all matters
connected with bee-keeping when consulted. All details with regard to this branch are
given in Mr. Fixter’s report appended hereto. Mr. Shutt has also kindly prepared a
report in continuation of that of last year upon further experiments with different brands
of “foundation,” which I feel sure will be read with much interest by all bee-keepers.

In May last four colonies of thoroughbred Italian bees were purchased from Mr. M.
B. Holmes, of Athens, Ont. Two of these were sent to the Experimental Farm at Bran-
don, Man., and one each to the farms for the North-west Territories and British Columbia.
These bees were very beautifully marked, and the queens were all young imported stock,
with the exception of one of those sent to Brandon, which was two years old, but also
imported. The colonies all arrived at their destinations in'good order, and will be found
. mentioned in the reports of the various branch farms.

I was much pleased to be able to arrange for a joint mid-summer meeting of the
Bee-keepers’ Associations of the counties of Russell, Prescott and Glengary. This
meeting was held at the Central Experimental Farm on the 12th of June last, and was
attended by many of the leading members of the various associations, who expressed
themselves as much pleased with what we were able to show them of the work being
done in the Apiary.

REPORT OF MR. JOHN FIXTER.
EXPERIMENTS IN WINTERING (1895-96).

The experiments begun last year as explained in the report for 1895 were repeated
this season and some others were undertaken. Following is a report on these :—

Experiment No. 1.—Seventeen colonies put into winter quarters in the cellar on
the 20th of November, 1895. Empty hives were placed on the floor, with 3-inch blocks
of wood on the top of them, at the back, and the hives piled up three tiers in height.
In addition to the 3-inch blocks, by which the back was raised higher than the front, so as
to give free ventilation, each hive was raised from its own bottom board with small blocks
$ inch in height. All front entrances left wide open. The wooden covers of all these
hives were removed and replaced by chaff cushions, four inches thick. Above the
cushions strips of wood, one along each side, prevented them touching the bottom of the
hive immediately above them, and also allowed air to circulate freely under each hive.

_

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 265

This mode of wintering was, on the whole, very successful. One swarm, however,
died from an unknown cause. When put into the cellar it had plenty of honey and
weighed 58 pounds. In spring its weight was found to be 472 pounds.

The average weight of the 16 other colonies was before winter 50} pounds, and in
the spring 40} pounds, each colony having consumed an average of only 10 lbs. of their
stores against 12 pounds 9 ounces the preceding winter, and 20 lbs. in 1894-95,
During the winter scarcely any humming could be heard in the hives, and there
was no sign of dampness nor of dysentery.

The product from the 16 hives during the season was, on an average, 47 sections of
honey from each, besides 17 pounds. in “extracting-frames” reserved for winter and
spring feeding. The 16 hives gave 5 new swarms. .

Experiment No. 2.—Two colonies put into the cellar, with tops and bottoms of the
hives left on, just as they were brought in out of the bee-yard. These were to be
watched for dampness.

By the 30th December, some mould was noticed at the entrance of one hive,
and a fortnight later both were very damp, one even had water on the bottom board.
In this hive, however, the bees kept very quiet and scarcely any hum could be heard,
while those of the other hive were very restless, some coming out at the entrance from
30th January ; consequently, on 10th February, a little ventilation was provided by dis-

‘placing somewhat the wooden cover; nevertheless,on 1st March, there were signs of
dysentery, and about half a pint of dead bees was removed. By 16th March signs of
dysentery appeared also on the other hive, and on the 1st April both seemed to be in
a very bad condition, a considerable number of dead bees having to be removed from
them.

On 15th April the two hives were taken out and placed on their summer stands; -
there were many dead bees and mould on the bottom board ; but the colonies were still
fairly strong. The bottom boards were removed and clean ones put in place of them.

On 27th April the hive that had been the quieter one during winter, was found
deserted ; its frames were very mouldy and soiled with feces. The other hive, on ‘the
same date, had two frames partly filled with brood and with new honey, The product
of this hive and of one swarm which it gave, was 92 sections of honey. ~

Experiment No. 8.—One colony was placed in a packing case in the cellar, on the
22nd November, 1895, and packed with four inches of dry sawdust all round the hive ;
brood chamber raised from bottom board by four small l-inch blocks ; wooden cover of
hive replaced by a 4-inch chaff cushion, and the packing case filled up with four inches
of dry saw-dust above the cushion. For ventilation a small shaft of the same size as
the opening to the Langstroth hive, led from the opening of the hive to the outside of the
packing case. Case placed on the top of another case, three feet high, in the stone
cellar beneath dwelling house.

About the 21st of January, this colony began to be uneasy ; some bees were com-
ing out. On 30th January, the top was somewhat displaced to give ventilation ; never-
theless bees kept coming out, though the cellar was perfectly dark, and on 14th Feb-
ruary a piece of thin netting was placed over the entrance to stop them. On Ist
March, there were many bees dead about the entrance which was much soiled with
feces. The number of dead bees then became less and less, and on 1st April the colony
was perfectly quiet. On 15th April it was taken out of the cellar and found to be in
a very weak condition with no more than one frame of bees ; the other frames were much
soiled with feces. The weight of the hive, 55 pounds on 22nd N ovember, -was now
reduced to 39 pounds, the bees having consequently consumed 16 pounds of honey.

On Ist May the bees though weak were gathering pollen actively ; on 15th May
the hive contained two frames with brood and much new honey, but no eggs and no
queen. One queen cell only was capped. On 25th May, all the brood had emerged and
flown away leaving scarcely a dozen bees in the hive. On 30th May, the hive was
deserted, the queen cell not being uncapped ; 7 pounds of fresh honey had been gathered
into the brood chamber.

266 ; EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

I am of the opinion that this colony perished from being kept too warm and for
want of sufficient ventilation.

Experiment No. 4.—This experiment is very similar to the last, but no ventilation
was provided, it having been claimed by one of our correspondents that he had always
wintered bees satisfactorily in this way.

The bottom board of the hive was removed and the hive was stood on four blocks
14 inches high, one under each corner, placed right on the bottom of the packing case,
which was then filled in with dry saw-dust, four inches all round and above, as in
Experiment 3, except that no shaft for ventilation was cut through to the outside of the
packing case; but immediately beneath the hive there was a narrow crack between the
boards of the packing case, not ;4, of an inch wide. The packing case itself was raised
about an inch off the earthen floor in the stone cellar by means of small blocks.

On 22nd November the hive weighed 49 pounds. No sound could be heard in it all

winter. On 15th April the bees were found all dead on the bottom board and appeared ~

to have died early in the winter, as scarcely any honey was consumed and the combs
were dry and clean. Weight on 15th April, 474 pounds. It is plain that this plan
cannot be recommended.

Experiment No. 6.—One colony was placed in a packing case large enough to allow of
4 inches of cut straw and chaff being packed all round the hive, and the box was left out
of doors in a sheltered place on the ground in the yard. Bottom board loosened and 1-
inch blocks put at each corner between bottom board and brood chamber. Wooden
cover also replaced by 4-inch chaff cushion, and box filled up with 4 inches of chaff and
cut straw. No ventilation.

The case was, besides, buried under a foot of snow shovelled upon it. No sound could
be heard from this hive during the winter till it was taken out on 15th April; the
weight had been reduced from 57 pounds in November to 49} pounds, the bees having
consumed 7# pounds. On being taken out, the hive was found very wet and mouldy
with a thickness of about two inches of dead bees on the bottom; two frames only
were partly filled with bees. Water had evidently come in from the outside, which
would have beén avoided if the hive had been raised about one foot from the ground,
and the results might then have been much better.

On 1st May the bees from this hive were gathering pollen, but were few in number.
May 14:—Colony very weak, but queen apparently in good condition ; two frames with
brood and eggs and new honey. June 1 :—Hive deserted, though plenty of stores
remaining ; 114 pounds of new honey in the brood chamber.

Experiment No. 6.—One colony packed exactly as No. 5, but with ventilating shaft
from entrance to the outside of the case which was placed three feet from the ground on
the top of an empty case out of doors. '

No sound could be heard from this hive all winter up to the lst April, when a
slight hum was perceptible. On 8th April the first hees made their appearance, some
flying in the evening ; there were many dead bees at the entrance ; outside temperature,
44° ¥. From the 8th to 14th April, on warm days, a few bees were noticed flying.
On 15th April the hive was taken out of the packing case and found to be deserted ;
many dead bees lay at the back end of the hive : the frames above were all dry and clean.

The hive when put into the case on 22nd November, weighed 51 pounds; when
taken out on 15th April, 39} pounds, 11? pounds of honey having been consumed.

Conclusions :—The mode of wintering that has given most satisfaction is No. 1.

Hives put in the cellar as they came from the bee-yard with the tops and bottoms
on (No. 2), had not sufficient ventilation. Dampness caused dysentery.

In the hive packed in saw-dust with no ventilation (No. 4,) the bees were
smothered ; in the hive similarly treated but with ventilation (No. 3,) the colony was
much weakened by heat, dampness and insufficient ventilation.

The hives packed in chaff and left out of doors, one on the ground without ventila-
tion (No 5) and the other with a ventilating shaft (No. 6), seem to have both been

beaks
ge 6s ee

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 267

insufficiently protected with packing, but the former one probably suffered most from
the water that found its way into the hive.

The temperature of the cellar during the winter 1895-96 was :—

Le N20) e Si a OE RAT ad ORRIN 9) bBo 38° to 40° F.
1” QIEIEC] SS OR RLS OME ONT ii ei 40° to 44° F.
PMR A Oe cn Se eat aad oes eae 38° to 44° BF,
LELURLD GI ga RM MOE SAAC ea ek OP st 38° to 43° F.
UU) CpG USS Ra Pm Me a CARLES te aac 3 40° tov4 ok,
25: UTI eo ce AIMEE OE LOR COU Le PMP EA pad gat Ba 3! 40° to 47° F.

Season oF 1896.

April 13, 1896.—The weather being very fine, bright and calm (temperature in the
cellar 42° F., out of doors, 55° to 59°F.), three hives were taken out of the
cellar at noon and placed on their summer stands, which were set on about
one foot of snow. The bees began to fly at once, but at night there was a
considerable number of dead bees about the entrances.

«© 14.—Weather very cool ; very little flying.

“15, 16.—Very warm, bees actively gathering pollen on willows in the swamps.

“« —_ 16.—Remaining colonies taken out. Temperature in cellar 47° F.; out of doors,
75° to 78° F.

**16-30.—Bees working well, gathering pollen on willows and soft maples. Some
bees seen attempting to rob; entrances of threatened hives were contracted
so that only one bee could pass at a time.

May 1-7.—Bees gathering pollen. Two days were cold and windy ;some dead brood was
carried out before the entrance of the hive.

“« 8-13.—Bees began to work on cherry and plum blossoms.

gs 13.— Apple blossoms provide abundance of pollen and honey.

*¢ —_ 14.—Dandelions in full bloom and very attractive to bees.

“ 15-20.—Very fine ; bees working well.

c 20.—White flowers of Viburnum Lantana covered with bees gathering honey.

* 20-31.—Bees working well; buckthorn hedges (Khamnus frangula) thronged
with them. ‘This, like the Viburnum, appears to be a very valuable shrub
for bees, as it comes in bloom so early in the season, before the clovers. Both
these shrubs, especially the buckthorn, make also good and useful hedges and
can be grown from seed.

June 4.—Bees clustering for the first time. Removed all cushions and propolis quilts.
Placed supers on all hives requiring them.

« 5.—Clover and Mock Orange ( Philadelphus) beginning to bloom.

« —13.—First swarm of the season.

« —19.—Bee-moth grubs found in some of the hives, of which the colonies had died
or deserted in the spring. These hives were taken into a closed room, and
fumigated with sulphur. For this purpose the brood chambers, after removal
of the top and bottom, were piled on the top of each other, and raised
sufficiently from the floor to allow of an iron vessel standing on legs, contain-
ing half a pound of sulphur to be placed under the lowest ; the sulphur was
ignited, and the fumes rose through all the frames and killed every grub.

«22. Inspected every hive ; a considerable number of sections were capped.

July 1.—First honey taken off from the hives this season.

< 3.—Noticed bees very thick on mustard and basswood, of which the blossoins
are just opening. Marked all supers, and removed those that were full.

“ 21.—Bees working still on clover and basswood, and beginning on the English
horse-beans.

« —_ 23.—Basswood blossoms just finished.

“ 24,.—-Noticed bees abundantly attracted by the following flowering plants :—
Asclepias tuberosa, Aster sibiricus, Centawrea macrocephala, Linaria spectabilis,
Veronica spicata.

268 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

July 26.—Bees very thick on St. John’s wort.
‘¢ 27.—Buckwheat plot No. 1 in bloom ; bees working well.
Aug. 4.—Workers first noticed killing drones.

considerably, so that the bees worked on this plant only early in the morning.
18-Sept. 1.—Weather very fine, with occasional showers ; bees flying well, but no
increase in weight of honey. /

Sept. 1.—Removed all supers, and weighed brood chambers ; all the hives of a weight
less than 55 pounds were given extracting frames with good sealed stores, so
that they might go into winter quarters weighing about 50 pounds. For this,
the frames that were empty, or nearly empty, were taken out and replaced by
full frames with well-capped honey. When it was not found advisable to
replace the frames, but feeding was necessary, a super containing partly-filled
sections, or extracting frames, was placed on the top on the propolis quilt, a
corner only—about one inch—of the quilt being turned back to provide a
passage for the bees, so as to make the bees believe they were taking the
honey from another hive. It is important to uncap the whole of the sections
or frames in the super, or the bees will not take the honey down to their own
combs so readily. If this mode of feeding is followed, there is little danger of
the bees robbing.

The above excellent plan of placing a quilt under the super, as explained above,
was suggested to me by Mr. William McEvoy, of Woodburn, Ont., Foul Brood Inspec-
tor, and proved perfectly successful. This plan prevents robbing, and uses up any
sections which may be only partially filled.

Those who have no extra sections or frames of honey should feed granulated sugar
of the best quality, two parts, by measure, in water, one part. The water should first
be boiled and then, while still on the stove, kept thoroughly stirred while the sugar is
put in and until all is dissolved. This syrup is to be fed lukewarm, great care being
taken not to allow any to leak or be spilt around in the hive. We generally use a
Miller feeder.

BuckwHEAT.

Two plots of Silver-hulled buckwheat were sown last season on the Experimental
Farm, primarily as pasturage for the bees, but also for the grain.

Plot No. 1.—The ground was partly sandy, partly clay loam. A dressing of wood
ashes—about 150 bushels to the acre—was applied during the early part of the winter
and ploughed under in spring. The buckwheat was sown on 20th June, three pecks to
the acre. It came up 27th June, was in bloom 26th July, when the bees began at once
to work on it; its growth was strong and even, and the seed was ripe on 25th September.
A heavy frost on 22nd September injured this plot so that it was of no further use for
the bees. Yield of threshed grain per acre, 29 bushels 26 lbs.

Plot No. 2.—Soil similar. Sown, 29th June; came up, 5th July; in bloom, 30th
July and Ist August, when the bees began at once to work on it; it made a strong and
even growth. It was injured by frost on 22nd September, and cut on 25th September.
Yield of grain per acre, 23 bushels 32 Ibs.

Five-BanpEepD ITati1an BEEs.

There isin the apiary but one colony of pure Five-banded Italian bees. It has
again this year given very good returns. It was one of the colonies of the wintering
experiment No. 1, and came out of winter quarters fairly strong, having consumed only
7} pounds of honey.~ During the summer it made 20 sections of honey and 53 pounds
of extracted honey, and swarmed once inJuly. Aswarm from another hive, which came
out at the same time, was very much mixed with this one, but the Italian queen came

through safely. These two swarms together made 22 sections and 374 pounds of
extracted honey. :

snianieasleeiaeaagiaalle

6-18.—Very hot and dry; this weather lessened the flow of buckwheat nectar

/

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST, 269

Hive 1n A Woop SHED.

Many inquiries having been received from the city, where space is scarce, about the
possibility of keeping bees in sheds, we tried last season by placing one in a wood
shed. A small hole, 6 inches by 6, was cut in the side wall of the shed, on a level with
the floor, facing the south. The entrance of the hive was close to this. From 15th
April to 1st May bees from other hives tried very hard to rob this hive ; so the entrance
was contracted so as to allow only one bee to pass in and out at a time. This hive and
the swarm which it gave produced 93 sections of honey. This hive has been left in the
shed for the winter. (See Experiments in wintering, 1896-97, No. 5.)

Hive Kept on Scares To SHow Darty Gan.

Records of the daily weighing of one colony were kept during the summer. _ This
was a first swarm secured on 13th June, and weighed at that date 63 pounds. It was
put into a hive with four frames of drawn comb and four frames of foundation, placed
alternately.

lst week from 17th June, gain...........; 222 lbs.

2nd i 24th =“ Gore, ay guys Rage a tara 204 *

3rd 4 ist. duly ~ <u icc dee eee tomn ss 124.“

4th “ 8th * aaa ge Bic itn 153

5th a 15th i ere ea dae eopeed Ce: 15¢

6th ee Wands 1° \6o). HOSS Le tafe aheastott Mateos 4} lbs.

7th e 29th 6, ELT Onesie ale seve eee

8th i Sih. aA erie Sb et carstelbaaraeten gs

9th gs 12th 6s, (MIGSSIe So aranestacerem tae 4 lb.
10th e Athy hao 6 Yale eds Wi etansee tats 2 Ibs.
11th ss AOthiwse Or afta Rts es eee mec Leib,

98ilbs. 74 Ibs.

Making a total gain in weight of 90 pounds. Ninety-four sections of honey were
taken from this hive. Some of the difference represents the weight of brood, &e.
» The largest gain on any one day was 6} pounds, on two occasions, one during the
clover flow and the other during the basswood flow.

RETURNS.

The total returns of the Central Farm Apiary for the season of 1896 show an
average of 50 sections, and 16 pounds and $ ounce of extracted honey for each colony.

Tor Bee CELLAR.

The winter quarters are a chamber boarded off from the cellar of a private house.
In former winters, it was found to be too cold and damp and the ventilation was
not satisfactory. There was only an upright ventilator, 3 inches by 3 inches, passing
through the ceiling up to a stove pipe, and provided with a damper with which to
regulate the draught ; but no air could be let in from the outside.

Several important improvements have been made in this cellar during the last
summer: a cement floor, shelves and an entrance from the outside. It is also larger
than before, being 11 feet 6 inches by 15 feet, which allows 3 tiers of shelves above
each other, and two passages. It is boarded off from the remainder of the cellar by a
partition of tongued and grooved jumber. ‘The floor is concrete over 8 inches of small
stones. The lowest shelf is 18 inches from the floor, the second 20 inches clear above,
and the third again 20 inches clear above that ; neither the hives on the third shelf nor
the uprights supporting the shelves reach the ceiling, so that no vibrations can reach the

hives from the ceiling above.

270 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

Outside air can be let in at any time by slides into both the bee-chamber and the
large cellar. Adjoining the bee-chamber is a smaller one provided with ventilators and
having a coal stove, so that, whenever necessary, fire can be made to raise the temperature
or purify the air of the whole cellar by increasing the ventilation.

EXPERIMENTS IN WINTERING (1896-97).

Colonies put into winter quarters, 16th November, 1896.

No. 1.—A repetition of experiment No. 1 of the former winter, with 15 colonies
of an average weight of 50 pounds and 15$ ounces each.

No. 2.—A repetition of experiment No. 2 of former winter, with two colonies
weighing respectively 49 pounds and 56 pounds.

No. 3.—Two colonies weighing 604 pounds and 63 pounds were placed in the root
house of the Central Experimental Farm, which is 100 feet long, 25 feet wide and 10
feet deep. They are ona shelf nailed up against the side wall about 3 feet from the
ceiling and projecting about 2 feet. A curtain is hung from the wall over the top and
front of the hives, soas to keep out all the light. The propolis quilt of one of
these hives had been removed on 2nd November and a cushion putin in its place.
That of the other hive has been left and a cushion placed above it, but the front of the
hives has been raised half an inch more by means of an inch block in the middle of the
entrance.

No. 4.—Two colonies weighing 50 pounds and 52 pounds, have been put into a _pit
dug in the side of a hill 3 feet deep by 3 feet in width and 10 feet long, so that the
- ventilators at both ends should not be immediately above the hives which are in the
middle of the pit. The hives rest on two cedar poles laid along the full length of the
pit. A third cedar pole of the same length is laid in front of the entrance of the hives
and insures the necessary circulation of the air from the ventilators. These ventilators
which are 3 inches by 4, are made of boards, three of which reach down to the bottom
of the pit, the fourth only to the top of the pit, and they rise 3 feet above the ground.

In each hive half-inch strips of wood have been laid under both sides and under the
back end, between the brood chambers and the bottom boards, so as to provide more
space at the bottom of the hive in case a quantity of dead bees should accumulate there.

The pit is filled up with loose straw up to four inches from the top, which is made
of cedar poles along the length of the pit, the middle ones higher than the others, covered
with a layer of straw and one foot of soil.

A small shaft has also been arranged between the hives, down which a thermometer
can be let by means of a string, so that the temperature of the pit may be ascertained.
The thermometer is examined once every week. If the temperature rises too much, some
of the covering may be removed ; and if the contrary, some may be added.

No. 5.—Two colonies, weighing 54 pounds, and 63 pounds., were put in a wood shed,
the walls of which are double-boarded, with an air space of four inches. The floor, which
isabout one foot from the ground, is also double-boarded, and there is no draught under
it. The hives are about one foot from the wall, resting on a double thickness of sacks
laid on the floor, and are covered above and all round with a double thickness of the
same sacking. No ventilation is provided for one hive. For the other, which is the one
that was kept in the shed during the summer, a small shaft, }-inch square, extends from
the opening of the hive to the outside of the shed, and }-inch strips of wood are put
under both sides and under the back end, between the bottom boards and the brood
chambers, so as to give more space at the bottom of the hive in case a quantity of dead
bees should accumulate there.

A Few SuGGeEstTions To BEGINNERS IN APICULTURE.

Locate your bee-yard in a well sheltered place, where no cold wind can chill the
brood. It will pay to build a high board fence if you cannot provide shelter in any other
way.

Have no high trees near the apiary, for it is very difficult to get the swarms down
from them.

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REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 271

Shade may be obtained by the use of a second cover to the hives, made of boards
one foot wider and one and a half feet longer than the cover of the hive.

Do not use propolis quilts during the honey season

Do not allow your sections to be travel-stained by leaving them in the hives too
long ; remove them to a warm room. ~

If the outside sections are not well filled, put them back in the next super.

Use 4-piece sections in preference to 1-piece sections.

Use full sheets of foundation in your sections ; the bees will go up sooner and work
better on full sheets.

In the same way, in the brood chamber use full sheets of foundation ; this will be
found a saving of time and do away with much drone comb.

Wire all brood frames and extracting frames.

Always sort your sections and clean them thoroughly before sending them to
customers. Send them always in a clean super or in a neat crate.

Let the bees always have a supply of water as near as possible to the apiary, for in
cool weather they require a great deal of water, especially when they are rearing a brood
or if the honey flow is light.

Always handle your bees with the greatest care and gentleness.

JOHN FIXTER.

REPORT UPON FURTHER EXPERIMENTS WITH CERTAIN BRANDS
OF. GOUB FOUNDATION,” BY ath Ad Kel D ce IhUTT, MA. VRC
CHEMIST, DOMINION EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

This investigation, commenced in 1894, and continued from year to year since that
date, has for its chief object the determination of the relative usefulness in comb build-
ing of certain brands of “foundation.” It was supposed that those brands of wax of
which the bees used the most, or, in other words, to which they added the least amount
of wax, in the building of the cell walls, would prove to have the greater value to the
bee-keeper. It is argued by most practical bee-keepers that, in supplying the bees with
wax that they can readily draw out and utilize in cell formation, a greater store of
honey may be expected. This, indeed, seems to be the main reason for furnishing bees
with artificial comb, though there are others of perhaps somewhat less importance. On
the other hand, however, there are some bee-keepers who think that there is but little
advantage in this respect, the chief benefit being a more regular structure of the cells in
the section. At my suggestion, Mr. R. F. Holtermann, editor of the Canadian Bee
Journal, has kindly furnished the following statement respecting the objects to be
attained in supplying the bees with comb foundation :—

“As to the object of using comb foundation, brood foundation is used to save the
bees time and material, to get all worker cells, and to secure straight comb. The
foundation in the sections is first of all to aid in enticing bees into the supers, to save
them material by the giving of wax, to save time, as they can begin storing more quickly
in the supers ; also to get an evenly-filled section, and to have it attached to the sides
and bottom of section. Bees are much less likely to do this well when they build the
comb themselves. Again, it is desirable to have the cells of a uniform size; by giving
them the foundation, this is secured.”

In connection with the question of wax utilization and deposition, Mr. Hoiter-
mann is also of the opinion that bees utilize the wax in the foundation to a greater
extent when the honey flow is light ; in other words, that, when gathering large quan-
tities of honey, bees manufacture or produce more wax than when the honey supply is
light. It might be urged that this argument, carried to its logical conclusion, would in
a large measure go to show that, in seasons of a heavy honey flow, there is little econ-
omy in supplyifig foundation. In these considerations, the fact must not be lost sight’
of that wax is not a material gathered by the bees, but a true secretion, the result of
the physiological functions of certain glands in the bee, and is produced to a large

272 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. ,

extent at the cost of the honey consumed by the insect. Wax, is, therefore, in a sense, |
a physiological concomitant of honey, and consequently it is improbable that all the 4
wax necessary for the construction of the comb can be furnished the bees ; indeed, our |

past results all point in this direction. It is, however, at the same time true that a }
portion of this wax can be economically supplied in the foundation, and within certain he
limits it would appear that the wax added by the bees is inversely proportionate to that i
furnished as foundation. J am further inclined to the belief that the weight of the q
comb varies somewhat with the season ; the reason for this may be accounted for by
Mr. Holtermann’s theory already referred to.

For the details of the method of procedure, the reader is referred to page 171,
Report of the Experimental Farms for 1895. An additional experiment has, however,
been made this year, namely, that of ascertaining directly the weight of foundation
after it had been drawn out by the bees. This was done by carefully shaving away the
empty cells on both sides till the foundation was left. The great difficulty experienced
in doing this with any degree of accuracy, owing to inequalities and to the fact that
the foundation is not always in one plane, renders the results but approximate. Indeed,
it will only be from oft-repeated experiments in this matter that safe conclusions can be :
drawn.

In Table I, we present in detail the data showing the weight and percentage of
wax added by the bees in building the comb :—

TABLE I.

EXPERIMENTS with various Brands of “ Foundation,” 1896.

i SN 1En5/G Ro] ®

E glee [ESSE 4] E

3 ws |2eela0z|29 Zl wg

bp Ag [ho s[ "| a.e| oo

a Name of Wax and Mill. Section. | AS SSS S Bald 8) Sb Gaiberes
3 Se le Soles Swlea 2) & ee
FS o eH oak Sato ay

fa Fi |.b08 Gj? gto” Oy So

3 Poales siSsa) Fs

A > am

13

A 1)Choice wax, Root mill............-...-- Outer ene g9° | 1°401]) 2°655) 1°254/ 89-5|Clover.
A 2 « USD Crain nan eetor ce ibnner. aeeee 89° | 1°401] 2°735) 1°334] 95:2) ‘*
Beal ae UAE PREETI OaanoOO. OE QOnter) ose 120° | 1°204| 2°691) 1°487| 123°5} =‘
B 2 $6 Occitan aed lane Aus AjaWeK PRES he 120° | 1°204| 2°647) 1°443} 119°9} **
C 1|Foundation in general use, 1896........ Quter™!...eeals PO a1 | "2946 AeSl 14s eee
Cu sé Ye econ doo Pnnetsa,relee 1°215] 3-003] 1°788) 147-1) ‘*S
Di ss ue 1B9B i ae rieiciecs Outer 2 ene saree 1:215) 2°761) 1°546] 127°3) ‘“
D2 ee - oes lata \etctatehe nM errc sete lie 1°215) 2-700] 1°485) 122°2) ‘“*
D3 “ ke eto cor Outeray eee ee 1°215| 3°082) 1°867| 153:6) Buckwheat.
D 4 sf « Fe ys Shee Pinner.) don een 1°215] 3-182) 1°967} 161°9 6
E 1|Heavy sheet, Root mill....... ....-..-: OH SA aoe 120° | 1°315) 3°062| 1°747| 182°8)Clover.
E 2 ie Sea aie stre Si tatavatalitets ate Ib Se modibe 120° | 1°315| 3 069] 1-754) 133-3)“
F 1\Inferior wax, Root mill ................ Otteria: ck. g9° | 1°224) 2-823) 1°599| 130°6) **
F2 ‘ Sree MNEs chs fsatelstele uate (rimeris sera: P| 1°224) 25771) 1547) 12673)
Gil i CSD IO Ppa lolseteiassie 8 Outer ..... 120° | 1°167| 2°664) 1-497) 128-2} ‘
G 2 th SEP IDEA ER CRC aarti o eaters Inner. .... | 120° | 1°167| 2°666| 1°499) 128°4! **
H 1/Choice wax, Given process ........ ..- Outer Bhat bape. 1°801| 3°538] 1:°737) 96-3) **
A 2 “ shiek YP ke Act oe Ter. ete onl enertnas 1°801| 3°567) 1°766, 98°0) *
FT 1\Poor wax, Given process.............-+- Outer ze ecc ieee 1°582) 3°739) 2°167| 136°3) *°
Y rage 3 fe Cae a eho tee MMETS ye a ee 1°582! 3°771| 2°189! 138-3); §S
J 1/Patent process, 12 sq. ft. per lb......... Qutenae. seal ee .| 1°004) 3°193) 2-189] 218-0; ‘*
J 2 ie es SoS ue eggs ae Tnnor tee .l|lee sae 1°004! 3°311) 2°307| 2297) “<
7 ei oe 1b say firiper bean ee Outeri se sealiaetee 1°093| 3°555) 2°422) 221°6) *s
K 2 the Se Cat ie Ac mn enone io) SS 1'093| 3°329] 2°236) 204 6) ‘
Ey l\jHeavy sidewall, R: F.Aiis...s..2c. es Outer wets isl see eee 1/257) 2-792) 1-535) 122-4)“
G 3 ec ee

nee Rbaade bor. TmMMerse . <aja)-l|\e-o yell Le 2ON| aeoro ese 128° 7]

Although in some instances there would appear, comparing the above results with j
those of last year, to have been less wax added than in 1895, there are so many excep- hs
tions that no conclusions can be safely drawn, either as regards variationin weight of

fae Re

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 273

wax deposited or its possible causes. The foundation supplied was from the same stock
as that in previous years and consequently the same weight for the 2 inches square of
foundation were used. The “ percentage of wax added” by the bees, therefore, varies
with the ‘‘ weight of wax added ”.

The differences between the weights of wax added in the outer and inner sections
is so small that the argument that the cell walls of the outer sections are stouter and
heavier than those of the inner sections, receives no support from these data. This
conclusion is practically identical with that reached in last year’s experiments.

It is to be noted that in the case where very light foundations were used, as in J
and K, the weight of wax added was much greater than when -heavier brands were
supplied.

As reported last year, the weight of wax added when the honey was collected from
buckwheat is greater than in that deposited for clover honey.

With respect to the appearance of the comb from different brands of foundation, it
was noticed as heretofore that the dark or deep yellow varieties produced unsightly
‘‘fishbones,” which would materially affect the sale of the honey in the comb.

Since the chief object in this investigation was to ascertain the relative ease with
which the wax of the various brands of foundation could be drawn out or utilized by
the bees, and the above method of procedure not proving altogether satisfactory, it was
thought that, at all events, approximate results could be obtained by weighing the
foundation after the empty cells had been shaved away on both sides of the foundation,
and subtracting the weight thus found from that of the same area of foundation as put
into the section. The figure thus obtained would represent the weight of wax drawn
out from the foundation supplied and utilized by the bees in building the cell walls.

The data in Table II, resulting from this method of experiment are :—

TaBLeE II.
EXPERIMENTS with various Brands of ‘“ Foundation,” 1896.

n a oa s 4

u om ae <) oe iS a

2 ance: ae ES ia

® See Aallevera Webel. |G

| wo 8 S2Isce TN wes

ae oa |&esleee |bER |a2,

5 Name of Wax and Mill. Section. = alee A g/a es es Boy Gathered

F Blecale: je: 2? [e288

bo Fi [sor -g]ce Sale xe Loe

} SS.SlS Sa SS Sk S(o: 5

Q eae peel = Rewer Gale sua fe

We

A 1|Choice wax, Root mill.............. Outer ..... 89° | 1°401 “702 °699| 49°9|Clover.
A 2 a SIME Cec couse a cere: nner retin 89° | 1°401 641 "760) -54;2) §§
Beal: es ay ae rR ea Bae Outer ..... 120° | 1°204 *835 7300)" woOso|) ese
B2 se Cie tec) es, Russel MTMOTspaeeavers te 120° | 1°204 avr 434307 O|| ease
© 1/Foundation in general use, 1896 ....|Outer......]...... IPAs: "842 Soro ellcO) 9 ss
C 2 ee ve Hamer PMSA) bab cl) aise emo 1°215 ‘741 "474" 3970)” 8
Di a “ 1905! Ae. Outen rate uae: TOUS Wetgtl |i i405 sa3-gh
D2 ss eB Sic | uence A ee 1:215| *B21)! <394) 3a-4)
D 3 ss iY cs \Outeri tes. Ile) ‘765 ‘450; 37°0)/ Buckwheat.
D4 Ks he See eee lnmerisacs: ces | ste 1 215 TAT °468| 38°5 sf
E 1\Heavy sheet, Root mill............ Outierse.7 |) U20r nes “856 *459| 34°8|/Clover.
EF 2 fe PED eaopnet ene, Tnner:\.)...- 120%) esi ~900 S415) SSL6| se
F 1\Inferior wax, Root mill............ Outerikmcn 89° ; 1°224 “803 “42)]i|| (3474 ois
F 2 . Gdataa ERED ce. Nam Gz eerestevere 89° | 1°224 “774 *450| 36°8] ‘*§
Gil ss Sts Pla eae fre as chanchetet Outer. 120° | 1°167 *726 °441| 37°8 We
G 2 ce PBs Sy Arsiac. crataa ecole Ibiner) eee 120° ) 1:167 “712 *455) 38°9) “f
H 1\Choice wax, Given process.......... ODES Sense |e te ok 0) Ue a sg °614) 34:0)“
H 2 oS pot engh hank cresaaeaee 1hebatsy ey pomoinla| Iscese c 1°801 “988 °813} 45:1)

IT 1\Poor wax, Given process... ...-... Oubery ai ferelleciete 1:582) 1:107 5470|) oOnO|) ees
LQ oe ia GL eonesaes ity Be hers) Po owe Puacom l| aleate pe lerie: 447) 28°3)
J 1|Patent process, 12 sq. ft. per lb..... Outeri tee sa|M sires 1°04 “875 pL 2 sere Sp ance
iD ce ec 5 coh ape MOMOrA tas, oot pnOO 891 ASS |Past: 2)" Cass
Kil ce 1S soeutt-apenlon-eer| O Ober meses lees 1:093} 1:014 XU EA
Ke 9 uf “ Celi peron mill) rrbeye) Santini | heme ie 1°093 853 S2A010 219) SE
L 1|Heavy sidewall, Rie HESS eh tra LOUIE Seed loueeh 1°257 793 464) 36°9) <“
Ex 2 re pee Miia ts eee | (er. sy pare |e erere 1°257 “761 7496) 394) s*

8c—18

974 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

The weight of wax utilized by the bees from 2 inches square of foundation varies
from ‘079 grams to ‘813 grams. The latter amount of wax was taken by the bees from
the heaviest brand of foundation supplied, while the former was from the lightest
brand. If we exclude the heaviest and lightest foundations, however, it will be seen
that the amounts of wax utilized in cell formation are not subject to much variation,
though it should be remembered that the method employed did not allow of any great
degree of accuracy in the determination. It will, therefore, be wisest to consider
average results before making deductions.

A study of the data of A 7, A 2, B 1, B 2, might appear to favour the view that
the milling temperature exercised an influence upon the relative ductility of the wax
and go to show that wax made at 89 degrees F. is more easily drawn out than that
milled at 120 degrees F. This view, however, receives no corroboration from /' 1, /' 2
and G 1, G 2,—a parallel case ; and I am inclined to the belief that the larger amounts
utilized in A 1;,A 2, are due to the foundation supplied being heavier than B /, B 2,
(see table.)

On calculating the “ per cent of wax added,” it becomes apparent that in 18 cases
(or 70 per cent of the trials made) this percentage was between 30 and 40; in three
trials, more than 40 per cent, and in 5 instances, less than 30 per cent. As remarked
in considering the “weight of wax added,” the higher numbers were obtained from
the heavier foundations.

Table III, which presents the averages of the foregoing data, was prepared for the
purpose of making clearer the features already alluded to and to assist in the more ready
comparison of the data from the various brands.

TaB.e III.

TasLe of Averages, 1896.

: ag.6 4 Ob ehh 8 pp ae cy)
re Ags | Aa OS cee Oe Seren seas
s glee | oP g (ee le, ele eee
3 wily? | mys | 8S fet Sores x a/8 ss
“OP -—_ O 9 seta GG lan SO 0,9
be S28 oe | fos Sele oe eee.
A; Name of Wax and Mill. me og Be Wie Ss '3/? 85° eae
3 Se) of | od os job aalok a blode
eg B| PEs PAS | Peg [Pao 8) Pe o/h 5.8
=n I . he he oO atv nar nes
3 SEe| she | Sos lf hsal2 hss Sos
(a) < < < <q < <
F.
4 a @hoice wax, Root miley oe eceee gor | 2:695 | 1:294| 92°3| 671] °729| 52°0
S a «“ CRAM reheat: 120 | 2°669| 1:465| 121°7| 802] -401| 33-3
g a Foundation in general use, 1896......-.|: --.- 2°974| 1°759| 144°7| -791| 423] 35-0
ae “ “ iE) Be ee We Sl a ee 2°730 | 1°515| 124°7| 815| 399 | 32°8
z E «“ « 1QOG SIS Ty [eels 3°182 | 1°917-)) Teg?) 7h6\| Seabou aren
2 at Heavy sheet, Root mill..........-+--++ 120° | 3:065 | 1°750| 188°0| -878; 437 | 332
z at Inferior wax, <° yee eee go | 2-797 | 1°573| 128°4] -788 435 | 35:6
a shi “ ct yee ee 120° | 2-665.) 1°498| 128°3| -719| 448 | 38°3
7 a Choice wax, Given process........ ....|..--+- 37502) alamo Oellien OST (13) 139"5
a aT Poor wax, nh? Gs, _ ..) 8-755 | 2:173 | 137-3 | 1121 | +461 | 29-1
a af Patent process, 12 sq. ft. per Ib........- _... | 37252 | 2-248 | 223-8] -883 > 121] 12-0
ie ay “ 15 Se" Fk NN 3442 | 2°399| 213°1| 933) -159| 14°5
3 ¥ Heavy sidewall, R. F. H......0..00002[0.00-2 9-933 | 1:576| 195-4] ‘777 | °480| 381

{

REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 275

There would not appear to be any definite relation between the weight of wax
added and that of the wax utilized, though the data of J1, J 2, and K 1, K 2, make it
evident that in very kght foundations the amount of wax utilized is very small and the
amount added correspondingly large. This would point to economy in supplying heavier
foundations than the brands just referred to, if the question resolves itself into one of
furnishing wax that can be utilized by the bees.

The average weight of “foundation” after the removal of the cells, is, all things
considered, seen to be fairly constant. The greatest weight was from ‘Choice Wax,
Given Process ”—the heaviest foundation experimented with—, the least weight was
obtained from “Choice Wax, Root Mill, temperature 89 degrees F.” by no means the
lightest brand used, but the brand from which the bees utilized the most wax.

In considering the average weight of foundation wax utilized, the largest amounts
were from A 1, A 2,and H 1, H 2, the Choice Wax of the Root Mill and Given
Process, respectively. The least amounts so utilized were from ‘Patent Process” 12
square feet and 15 square feet per pound.

In summing up the results of this year’s work, we may conclude that, considering
the values of the comb foundations to be dependent upon the extent to which they are
utilized by bees in cell formation, the Choice Wax, Root Mill, temperature 89 degrees F.,
gave the best, and the “‘ Patent Process,” 12 square feet and 15 square feet per pounds,
the poorest results. Both the Choice and Poor Wax of the “Given Process” give very
heavy “fishbones.” Concerning the other brands on these points, the differences are
not sufficiently well marked to allow of any emphatic statement being made respecting
them.

FE. T. Suurt.

NOXIOUS WEEDS.

The subject of weeds is one of burning interest all over Canada, and is too large to
treat exhaustively in this place. Farmers, as a rule, are not well informed even with
regard to the common species of aggressive weeds occurring on their land. Figures have
already been given in former reports of some of the plants, the appearance, name and
nature of which it was important, from their injuries, should be known so as to be
eradicated whenever noticed. I submit herewith a figure of one of the new pests of
Manitoba, namely the Cow Cockle (Saponaria Vaccaria, L.), also known locally under
the different names of Cow Herb, China Cockle and Soapwort. This plant has been
noticed as an aggressive enemy in field crops only during the last two years, and so far
only in the province of Manitoba, where it has spread very rapidly, particularly in the
Mennonite settlements and other parts of Manitoba, the pretty porcelain-pink flowers
sometimes occurring in such numbers as to give a reddish tinge to many acres of crop.
The Cow Cockle belongs to the Pink or Carnation family. It is an annual herb with
pale green, fleshy, sessile leaves, borne in pairs at each joint of the stem. The flowers
first appear in Manitoba in July; they are about ? inch in diameter and are borne in
large numbers, but each singly at the end of the thread-like branchlets of the many
times divided flowering stems, as shown in the excellent figure herewith, which is
engraved from a photograph taken by Mr. R. G. Mackay at Indian Head. Strong plants
will frequently grow over two feet in height, with a diameter almost equal. The smooth

8c—18$

276 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS.

pod is inclosed in a five-angled calyx which enlarges with it. When the seeds are ripe

the apex of the pod opens, forming a four-toothed orifice. Each of the pods with its

enveloping five-winged calyx, measures about $ inch in diameter, and contains an aver-
age of 16 round, black, slightly roughened seeds. © This plan€* together with the
Tumbling Mustard (Sisymbrium altissimum, L. ;=the S. sinapistrum, Crantz, of former
reports), Ball Mustard (Veslia paniculata, Desv.), Hare’s-ear Mustard (Lrysimum orientale,
R. Br.*), and False Flax (Camelina sativa, Fries.), has spread with almost incredible

aX $ js
NV) ‘

AN i
mY

Fig. 18.—Cow Cockle.

rapidity through the wheat-growing districts of Manitoba and the North-west Terri-
tories. The indications are that all of these were introduced from Europe in flax seed,
and, although in the case of the Cow Cockle and Ball Mustard, there was little in their
appearance from which it might been anticipated that they would become troublesome,
the rapidity with which they have spread shows how important it is that every one of
these plants should be destroyed by hand pulling or summer fallowing as soon as detecied
on land in a new locality.

*This plant is now known under the name of Conringia orientalis (L.), Andrz. Conringia is quite a
different genus from Erysimum and certainly should be separated from it.—J. F.!

a he ae

WLU
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