O ^ ** ^ 
 
 IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
 4r 
 
 
 1.0 
 
 I.I 
 
 11.25 
 
 ■tt|21 125 
 ■J ijig ■■■ 
 
 !g lAa 12.0 
 
 MMb 
 
 M 
 
 U 11.6 
 
 FholDgraphlc 
 
 Sciences 
 
 Corporation 
 
 
 23 WtST iMAIN STRUT 
 WIBSTIR,N.Y. I4S80 
 
 (716) tra^soa 
 
 '4HS 
 
CIHM 
 Microfiche 
 Series 
 (Monographs) 
 
 iCIMH 
 
 Collection de 
 microfiches 
 (monographies) 
 
 Canadian Instituta for Historical IMicroraproductiona / Inatitut Canadian da microraproductiona hiatoriquaa 
 
Ttchnical and! Biblioflraphie Notts / Notts ttehniquts tt bibliographiquts 
 
 Tht Institute has atttmpttd to obtain the btst original 
 copy availabit for filming. Ftaturas of this copy which 
 may bt bibliographically uniqut, which may altar any 
 of tha imagas in tht rtproduction. or which may 
 significantly changa tht usual mtthod of filming, art 
 chtcktd btlow. 
 
 D 
 D 
 D 
 
 Colourtd covtrs/ 
 Couverturt dt coultur 
 
 Covtrs damagtd/ 
 Couvtrturt tndommagit 
 
 Covtrs rtstortd and/or laminattd/ 
 Couvtrturt rtstaurit tt/ou ptiliculte 
 
 I [ Covtr titit missing/ 
 
 D 
 
 Lt titrt dt couvtrturt manqua 
 
 Colourtd maps/ 
 
 Cartas giographiquts an coultur 
 
 □ Colourtd ink (i.t. othtr than blut or black)/ 
 Encrt dt coultur (i.t. 
 
 n 
 
 D 
 
 D 
 
 n 
 
 autrt qut bitut ou noirt) 
 
 Colourtd platts and/or illustrations/ 
 Planches tt/ou illustrations tn coultur 
 
 Bound with othtr mattrial/ 
 Rtlit avtc d'autres documtnts 
 
 Tight binding may causa shadows or distortion 
 along inttrior margin/ 
 La reliurt strrte ptut caustr dt I'ombrt ou de la 
 distorsion It long dt la margt inttriturt 
 
 Blank leavts addtd during rtstoration may apptar 
 within tht ttxt. Whtntvtr possibit, thtst havt 
 bttn omitttd from filming/ 
 II St peut qut ctruines pagts blanchts ajout^ 
 lors d'unt rtstauration apparaissent dans It ttxtt, 
 mais, lorsqut ctia ttait possibit. cts pagts n'ont 
 pas M filmtes. 
 
 Additional comments;/ 
 Commentaires supplementairts: 
 
 This ittm is filmtM ^: :he reduction ratio chtcktd btlow/ 
 
 Ce document est Ulmi au taux de reduction indique ci-dessous. 
 
 L'Institut a microfilm* It mtilltur txtmplairt qu'il 
 lui a M pouibia dt st procurtr. Lts dttails dt ctt 
 txtmplairt qui sont ptut-4trt uniquts du point dt vut 
 bibliographiqut. qui ptuvtnt modifitr una imagt 
 rtproduitt. ou qui ptuvtnt txiger unt modification 
 dans la mithodt normala dt f ilmagt sont indiqufa 
 ci-dtssous. 
 
 □ Colourtd pages/ 
 Pagts dt coultur 
 
 □ Pagn damagtd/ 
 Pagts tndommagto 
 
 □ Pagts rtstortd and/or laminated/ 
 Pages restaurtes et/ou pellicultes 
 
 Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ 
 Pages dicoiorin. tachet^es ou piquets 
 
 □ Pages dttachtd/ 
 Pagts ditachits 
 
 0Showthrough/ 
 Transpartnct 
 
 Quality of print varits/ 
 Qualitt inigale de I'impression 
 
 □ Continuous pagination/ 
 Pagination continue 
 
 □ Includes index(es)/ 
 Comprend un (des) index 
 
 Title on header taken from: / 
 Le titre de I'en-tCte provient: 
 
 livraison 
 
 □ Title page of issue 
 Page de titre de la 
 
 □ Caption of issue/ 
 Titre de depart de la livraison 
 
 □ Masthead/ 
 Generique (periodiques) de la livraison 
 
 10X 
 
 
 
 
 14 X 
 
 
 
 
 18X 
 
 
 
 
 22X 
 
 
 
 28 X 
 
 
 
 
 30X 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 / 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12X 
 
 
 
 
 16X 
 
 
 
 
 20X 
 
 
 
 24 X 
 
 
 
 
 2RX 
 
 ^"^ 
 
 U_J 
 
 
 T?t 
 
The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks 
 to the generosity of: 
 
 National Library of Canada 
 
 The images appearing here are the best quality 
 possible considering the condition and legibility 
 of the original copy and in keeping with the 
 filming contract specifications. 
 
 Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed 
 beginning with the front cover and ending on 
 the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All 
 other original copies are filmed beginning on the 
 first page with a printed or illustrated impres- 
 sion, and ending on the last page with a printed 
 or illustrated impression. 
 
 The last recorded frame on each microfiche 
 shall contain the symbol ~-^ (meaning "CON- 
 TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), 
 whichever applies. 
 
 Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at 
 different reduction ratios. Those too large to be 
 entirely included in one exposure are filmed 
 beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to 
 right and top to bottom, as many frames as 
 required. The following diagrams illustrate the 
 method: 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 L'exemplaire film* fut reproduit grAce A la 
 g4nArosit6 de: 
 
 BibliothAque nationale du Canada 
 
 Les images suivantes ont «t« reproduites avec le 
 plus grand soin, compte tenu de la condition at 
 de la nettet« de l'exemplaire fiimA, et en 
 conformity avec les conditions du contrat de 
 filmage. 
 
 Les exempleires originaux dont la couverture en 
 papier est ImprimAe sont filmAs en commenpant 
 par le premier plat et en terminant soit par la 
 derniire page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second 
 plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres exempleires 
 originaux sont filmte en commenpant par la 
 premiere page qui comporte une empreinte 
 d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par 
 la r'^rnlAre page qui comporte une telle 
 empreinte. 
 
 Un de« symboles suivants apparaftra sur la 
 derniire image de cheque microfiche, selon le 
 cas: le symbote — ^ signifie "A SUIVRE", le 
 symbole y signifie "FIN". 
 
 Les cartes, plenches, tableaux, etc., peuvent 6tre 
 filmte d des taux de reduction diffdrents. 
 Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre 
 reproduit en un seul clich«, il est film* A partir 
 de I'angle sup«rieur gauche, de gauche h droite, 
 ot de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre 
 d'images n^cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants 
 illusvrent la m^thode. 
 
 22 1 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
CoHtplUMc»vti> oj 
 
 James Fletcher. 
 
 ? 
 
 I, 
 
 CENTRAL EXPERIMENTAL FARM 
 
 REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST 
 
 (JAMES FLETOHER, F.R.S.C, F.L.S.) 
 
 FOR 1892 . 
 
REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 
 
 (Jambs PtExcnKR, P.R.S.O., F.L.S.) 
 
 W. Saunders, Esq., 
 
 Director, Dominion Exporimontal Farms, 
 Ottawa. 
 
 Sib.— I have the honour to hand yon herewith a report upon some of the more 
 importantfeubjoctB which have, boon Brought under my notice oflBciaUy during the 
 
 East sea-son. 'ihe only new insect post of importance which requires special mention 
 ere is the Cattle Horn fly {Uoemalobia serrata, R. Desv.), upon which under your 
 instructions I prepared a bulletin (C. E. F. No. U) in September last. This has 
 been distributed to our correspondents both in English and French, and I trust 
 that the farmers of Canada will recognize the groat importance of using every 
 elfort to stamp out this small but formidable foe. Enquiries concerning insects, for 
 the most part this year, have been with regard to enemies of tield and fruit crops. 
 In the division of Botany, some interesting experiments have been carried out as 
 to the best means of preventing loss from the disease, known as Potato-rot. The 
 collection in the Botanic Garden has been increased by about fifty species, chiefly 
 willows, poplars, oaks and birches. A border for per nnials has also been begun, 
 and clumi)8 of about forty of our native Michaelmas-daisies, golden-rods and other 
 plants have been established. Largo numbers of specimens have, as usual, been sent 
 m for identification, both of insects and plants. 
 
 Field Crops.— Ceveal crops have on the whole been somewhat freer from insect 
 attacks than usual. The Hessian Fly and the Wheat-stem Maggot wore sent in from 
 alow localities. In the Ottawa district the former was sought tor carefully, but 
 in vain. Last year, through the kindness of Professors Riley and Forbes, I was 
 favoured with a consignment of Hessian Fly "flax seeds" infested by a parasite 
 which has done good service in Europe by reducing the numbers of this often unde- 
 tected foe. Those arrived in good condition, and were liberated at Ottawa in a 
 field known to be infested. Although no specimens could bo found of the parasite 
 or its host, I am still hopeful that the parasite may have est^iblished itself, and 
 that the benefit of the experiment may become evident later. The strange iniury 
 to oats by the common Red-legged Locust (Melanoplus femur-rubrum, Do G.), which 
 has been frequently noted, in which the flowers and grains are cut off from the 
 panicles and dropped to the ground, has been again reported by the Hon. G. W. 
 Allan, from his farm near Bariie, Ont. Gr.ain crops wore somewhat injured in 
 eastern Ontario by the Devastating Cut-worm {Hadena devastatrlx, Brace). Corn 
 was less attacked, as far as I have received reports, than for many vears 
 previously. The only cut-worm that was sent in frequently was the Rod-backed Cut- 
 worm \Agrotis \Carneades) ochrogaster, Guen]. I was able to clear up part of the 
 life history of this species during the past season. Eggs laid by a female caught in 
 the field during October, 1891, hatched only on April the 20th following. These 
 were full grown, and pupated June 10th, the first moths appeared July 20th. This 
 is a large caterpillar, exceeding IJ inches in length when full grown, and attacks 
 almost all succulent vegetation. 
 
 Ti- - u-- _:i 1 1---I- »._y...™™li». <1naf<...nfiTTa nnA uraxA •♦ r\i\t tnnf'. 1 n«rn wu* * 
 HO irca-wcvvsi ii:i3 uccu uijUsubjIj- •.<t?~vi tivs. r--, ~.... = •- - ~ 
 
 larger acreage than usual put in to this crop, there would have been a considerable 
 
BXPORT OF THB RNTOMOLOQIBT AND BOTANIST. ' 3 
 
 departmont, with a view of discovoring a remedy. ThoHC will bo found in hia report 
 on puse 104. 
 
 Root maggots of cabbagoB. onions, radishoH and turnips have boon, porhaps, the 
 most troubloNomo poslH of the year. I'\>r gaivion application Ilolloboro loa and Ke- 
 rosono Emulsion applied at the roots have boon KuccosHful, but for field practice no 
 adequate remedy has bo far been diHcovorod. 
 
 The Colorado Potato-bootio {Doryphora \0-lineata, Say) made its ajjpoaranco as 
 a serious post of potatoes in Nova Scotia and Prince Kdward Island. Paris Gioon is 
 undoubtedly the best remedy for this enemy, and, when it is used with pioi>or care, 
 no danger of poisoning need bo approhendod. It is poisonous, of course, very poi- 
 Bonous; but so are many other substances which it is necossaiy to use. No possible 
 ill results to human beings can follow its use upon plants, from ihoir abRorbing its 
 poisonous principles into their tissues. A predaceous bug (Podisus cynicus. Say), 
 which was. found feeding upon the Colorado Potaio-bcotlo, by Mr. A. J. dcNoill, of 
 Little Sands, P.E.I., was also sent to me by correspondents at London, Toronto and 
 Ottawa. 
 
 Turnips wore comparatively little injured by thoFloa-beotle; but late in Septem- 
 ber the Turnip Aphis {Aphis rapa;, Curtis) made its appcaranee in a few localities in 
 alarming numbers; specimens were received from Prince Edward Island, Quobee 
 and Eastern Ontario. Turnips on the Central Experimental Farm were brought to 
 me on the 4th of November, which had been heavily infested, but the pest^ had been 
 entirely destroyed by the fungus Emjutsa aphtdis, Jloffm., the whitened and swollen 
 dead bodies being in conspicuous musses at the bases of the leaves. 
 
 The Zebra caterpillar of Mavmtra picta, Harr., was very numerous in the vici- 
 nity of Ottawa. It appears to be literally omnivonius, attacking plants of all orders. 
 It was very destructive to young sj)ruces, asparagus and peas, cabbages, olovors, 
 etc., and was sent in several times us an enemy of potatoes. Lato in the season, as 
 rocordeil further on, the eggs wore largely doNtro^-ed by parasites. 
 
 The Celery caterpillar, Papilio Asterias, Falir., was sent in from various places 
 in Ontario and Quebec, where it was destructively abundant upon celery, carrots and 
 parsnips. Of tho^e bred, most of the specimens wore found to be parasitised by the 
 Ichneumon fly Troi/us exesorius, Brulld. 
 
 A caterpillar which occurred in undue numbers all through tho eastern por- 
 tions of the Dominion was the so-called " Salt-marsh Caterpillar" (Leucarctia acrcea, 
 Dm.) This insect is widely distributed and occurs all over Canadn. The cater- 
 pillars, known as *' Woolly Bears," food upon most low plants, and are occasionuily, 
 when abundant, injurious in gardens to beans, lettuce, cabbage, etc.; but their 
 favourite food plants seem to be useless weeds, such :is liimb's quai tors, dan<lelion, 
 etc. A consignment of caterpillars sent to mo by Mr. C. II. Wright, of Middleton, 
 Ont,, was found to bo infested with tho infectious fungous disease Empum grylli, 
 Fres., var. aulicce. Experiments made with the object of propagating this disease 
 apparently failed. 
 
 Fodder Crops. — Hay and all foddor crops were excellent in most of the pro- 
 vinces, tho spring having been exceptionally favourable. Grass insects received 
 some attention. The injury known as "silver top" was remarkably prevalent, 
 and is due to sovoi-al insects, jirinoipallj', I think, as suggested by Prof. Osborn, to 
 small leaf-hoppers, pcrhnps also to aThrips, and also in the stems of somo of the 
 larger grasses to tho Wheat-stem Maggot. In the experimental grass plots, the larva 
 of Hydroecia cataphracta, Grote. tho Tomato-stem Borer, was vei-y abundant in tho 
 young stems of Fhalaris arundinacea and Elumxis Canadensis. The same caterpillar 
 was also more than usually destructive, burrowing in the stems of many herbaceous 
 plants, such as tomatoes, potatoes, lilies, sunflowers, &c. There was doubtless much 
 unrecognized injury to grass lands from the attacks of tho Devastating Cut-worm and 
 tho American Frit-fly underground, and a true Thrips upon the leaves. A wvore 
 attack upon marsh grass lands by an insect which has never before, in my expe- 
 rience, been noticeably, injurious, was that of Ctenucha Virqinica, Charp., which was 
 reported to me by Mr. Amos "Vernon, of Minudie, N.S. The caterpillars are inter- 
 esting, fVom thoir very diflFerent colouration during the last moult, vhon they are 
 
* KXl'EHIMKNTAL VAUJid. 
 
 vellowiBh white, and the preceding; onen, when they are black and white, with yel- 
 low ornamdntation. 
 
 Fruit Cropa. — There has boon as usual much inquiry with regard to the com- 
 mon poHtH of the orchard and garden, such as the TentCaterpiliarH, the Oybtor-shell 
 Bark-louKe, the Rod-humped Caterpillar of the Apple, the Woolly Aphis, the Grape- 
 vino Leaf-hopper, and the Chorry-Hlug. 
 
 The JOyo-Hiyolted Bud-molh did not occur nearly so widely nor so abundantly as 
 last season. The Ci^'ar Ca.*e-bearor, mentioned in my report for 18!M, at page 196. 
 has been named by Tiof. Fernald, of Amherst, Mass., Coleophora Fletcherelta. This 
 insect which was first sent some year ago from Prince J^idwurd Island and New 
 Brunswick, appeared in enormous numbers in 1891 in the orchard of Dr. D. Young, 
 at Adolphorttown, Ont. Dr. Young has carried out careful spraying < xporimonts 
 both with hot :ind cold Kerosene Emulsions and ditterent stionghts of i'iiris Green. 
 He has found this a difHcuit post to eradicate, but has succeeded bv:X with the 
 Kerosene Kmulsion used in spring when the caterpillars are aciivo. An ouibreak of 
 the Apple Bucculatrix at St. Catharines, Ont., was I'^indly brought to my notice by 
 Mr. W. J. Ilambly, of the Toronto JfuiV, and specimens of twigs from iufestod trees, 
 which has been sent to mo, without any letter, show that the insect occurred in 
 very great numbers. From specimens received, coming from widely separated 
 districts, I fear that the Pear- leaf Blistar is spreading. The almost invisible elon- 
 gated white mites which cause the blisters on the leaves, pass the winter in the scales 
 of the buds of pear trees. The best remedy is to spray infested trees, just as the 
 buds are opening, with Kerosene Emulsion. 
 
 A ne\ attack of some inteiest upon apple buds and blost-oms is reported from 
 Nova Scotia by Col. W. M. Blair, Superintendent of the Experimental Farm, at 
 Nappan, N.S. This is by the cleek-beetle, Cvryinbites carieinvs, Germ. I have, on 
 two occasions previously, received these beetles fiom Nova Scotia as occurring upon 
 ajiple blossoms, but with no statement as to their injuries. Col. Blair, however, 
 writes to mo on the 1st of June: " I send you herewith some beetles which are des- 
 troj'ing the foliage of our trees. They are on every tree in hundreds and seem to 
 suck the leaves as soon as they appear. Tliey fall to the ground at the slightest 
 shake. When the flowers open, they attack those alsn, and many other plants and 
 shrubs, in fact, they are on almost everything that has a leaf." Prompt spraying 
 with Paris Green was recommended and the collection of the beetles by beating the 
 foliage over a beating-net or an inverted umbrella. 
 
 The enemies of the grape-vino were abundant in western Ontario, but their 
 attacks were most noticeable upon the Virginian Creeper {Ampelofsis quinquefolia). 
 The caterpillars of the Beautiful Wood-nymph and the Lesser Grape-vine Sphinx 
 in many places, stripped this ornemcntal creeper of its foliage ; both, however, were 
 much reduced in number by parasites. 
 
 The Raspberry-cane Girdlor (Oberea bimaculata, Oliv.) was the chief enemy of 
 tho raspberry in the Ottawa district, and specimens of its work came in from other 
 parts of Ontario and Quebec. 
 
 Paria sex-notata was again this year a most serious pest of raspberries at St. 
 Catharines, Ont. Mr. Martin Burrell writes; "My old enemy P. sexnotata has 
 revesited mo this spring in greater numbeis than ever. I sprayed with Paris Green, 
 4 ounces to 40 gallons, but the foe still ' bobbed up serenely.' Of a quarter of an 
 acre of my raspberries not a 'score of canes have leafed out. I am not the only 
 victim this year, as several of my neighbours have been seriously injured by tho 
 beetles." This insect, like the Rose-beetle (Macrodactylus subspinosus, Fabr.), appears 
 to be very difficult to treat, even Paris Green having much less effect than much 
 milder poisons with other insects. It is the perfect insects which destroy tho young 
 giowth at the time of flowering. The grub passes its life underground, living upon 
 roots. 
 
 Red and white currants, were neglected, have been defoliated by the Imported 
 Currant Saw-fly. Paris Green early in the season and White Hellebore after the fruit 
 has formed are tnfe and eflective remedies. Fruit infested by the Currant Weevil 
 {Anthonomus rubidvs, Lee.) was sent by Mr. W. S. Duggan, from Murray Bay, Que., 
 
ff 
 
 BKPOBT or TM KNTOMOLOQIST AND D0TANI8T. - A 
 
 whore it hafl reduced largely his crop of rod currants. This weevil can Konorally 
 bo found every year nt Ottawa in small numbers but nearly always in white cur- 
 runte. Ail infested fruit ripens before tho main crop and should be destroyed boloro 
 it drops from the branches. 
 
 w''*u' TV^s.— Tho mf)st noticeable attack of th j year to forest trees was by the 
 Pall Web-worm (Jlyphantria cunea, Dru), and whore the webs were not r«noved 
 upon ihoir first appearance in Aiif,'uwt, at which time it would have been and easy 
 matJer, the disguMlin^'-wobs filled with cxecrcment, remain as unsiKhtly witnesses of 
 iip;rliponco. Lophyrus abietia. llarr, tho Spruce Saw-fly, allackod Norway sjjrucos 
 in Winnipeg and western Ontario. It was also injuriously abundant upon native 
 spruces in the Muskoka district. The Lardi Saw-fly, JSematm Erichaonii, Hart., 
 C()ntinuo8 its ravages in tho tamarack swamps of Ontario, (iuebec and the Maritime 
 Provinces. Already thousands of acres of native larch have boon killed. Two other 
 imported saw-flies are now being studied at Ottawa, where thiy have developed 
 during tho last four years as serious nests. Fenvsa varipea, St. Furg, (melanopoda 
 Cam.) and Nmatva palliUiventria, Fallon. Tho former of these is a small black saw- 
 nyiiof »n inch in length or a littlo more, which inserts its eggs J)cni'ath the 
 epidermis of tho upper surface of tho young leaves of the Kuropoan alder. The 
 larvaj mine within tho leaves and give them a very blotched and withered appear- 
 ance. When full-grown, they eat tfieir way out and fall to tho ground, beneath the 
 surfiace of which thoy pass the pupal stage. There are two and perhaps three broodn 
 in the season. So far no parasites have boon detected. Owing to their habit of 
 feeding within tho loaves a jjractical remedy is diflicult to doviso. Aematus pnlli- 
 diventria is a species found in Northern Europe and was probuUly introduced with 
 willows from Russia. In all its stages it somewhat resembles the Imported Currant 
 Saw-fly and is easily checked by spraying with Paris Green. 
 
 TFcerfs.— There has been much correspondence on this important subject, of 
 which I treated at some length in my last report. The most serious imported agi-i- 
 cnltural pest is a member of tho Mustard family. Sisymbrium sinapistrum, the 
 "Tumbling Weed "of the settlers around Indian Head, N.W.T. This is a largo 
 coarse annual or biennial, according to locality. In Europe, where it is native, it 
 18 according to D. Rapin, an annual in tho valley of the Rh6no, and, according to 
 Dv. M. Seubert, a biennial in the valley of the Rhine. Tho same ditferonco exists In 
 Canada ; a plant observed on a railway bank at Ottawa passed tho winter and threw 
 up itH "owering spiko in June. In the North-west, however, it is a true annual. Mr. 
 Mack., "rites: " It starts in the spring from seed, and if let alone, will ripen its 
 seed at t ^o sumo time as mustard, or about wheat harvest. If cut off above the 
 ground, it will throw out shoots, which, if let alone, will ripen seed before frost 
 comes, if the first cutting is early enough. If not, the shoots will go on growing 
 until the first frost destroys it. It does not start in tho spring from the'autumn - 
 growth, as you suggest, for that is entirely dead. One seed produces one stock 
 which lives and dies the same season." Tho normal size of this plant in Europe is 
 about two feet high, but a large specimen sent to me entiie by Mr. Mackay for the 
 purpose of counting the seeds was more than twice tluit height, with numerous 
 branches covered with long pods. All of these were counted : each pod contained 
 an average of 120 seeds in two ranks and gave tho enormous total of one and a half 
 millions of seeds from the one plant. These when threshed outweighed l.^o grammes 
 (nearly 6i ounces.) Tho seeds are very small, about half the size of the seed of 
 timothy, and dark reddish brown in colour. There is no doubt but the introduction 
 of this pernicious weed into tho North-west Territories is a most serious matter, and 
 It is gratifying to know that farmers there arop-aying so much attention to this sub- 
 ject and ucing every ofibrt to stamp out noxious weeds. Tho large number of speci- 
 mens which have been sent to me lor identification by farmers, weed inspectoi-s and 
 others, are proof of this. 
 
 Of plants which have developed locally as aggressive weeds, in addition to tho 
 
 above, tho following may be mentioned, and tend to show that almost any plant 
 
 midor special circumstances may become a troublesome pest: Camelina sativa, 
 
 J\estia panicuhita, Jva xanthiifolia, Iva axillaris, and Corydalis aurea in Manitoba : 
 
 7b— lOi 
 
" IXPkhlMKNTAL FARMS. 
 
 Cuacuta trifoUi, from AHhcroft, B.C., and from weHtern Ontario, Hieraeium aurantia- 
 cum, vxlvntliuK from the Eastern Townbhipa into Vermont, and Lepidium campeatre. 
 from Stoiioy Crock, Ont. > r t , 
 
 Tlie ►subject of " Loco " woodg hoH been brought forward by tho poihoning of 
 Hhcop and liimbH in Manitoba, but no BpeeimenB were forwarded, and nothing definite 
 wax Uj^nriainod. It would bo well if the owners of sheep runn would Bend Hpeiimens 
 of any plantH Iwlonging to the Pea family with upright (not creeping) stemrt wliich 
 they may find on tho runn, when sheep have been poisoned. 
 
 Meetings.— I have during the year attended five Farmei-s' Institute meetings, at 
 CowanHvi||«, Quo., Brantfoi-d, Picton, Carp and Oaletta, Ont. At the roquent (.f tho 
 Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Arts of Ontario, I attended a meeting of a committee 
 of the Provincial Ijegisiature, and gave evidence as to tho best time to spray fruit 
 trco!* to dei.tioy insect pests, without running the risk of poisoning hoes, which 
 are of .so much importunco to fruit-growers in ftrtilizing blossoms, as also of course 
 in making honey. 
 
 Ackmwledijmenia. — I beg again to express my thanks to many who have rendered 
 mo valuable asMistunco in making observations and sending mo prompt notice of the 
 occurrence of injurious insects and fungous pests. 1 wish particularly to acknow- 
 ledge my indebtedness to Prof. C. V. Riloy, Dr. George Vasoy, and Mr-. B. T. Gallo- 
 way, of Washington, and Prof. John Macoun, of Ottawa, for many favours in the 
 identification of Kpceimens and for tho loan of illustrations; also to Dr. J. Hamilton, 
 of Allegheny, Pa., for the identification of coleoptera, and Prof. Byrou D. Hulstod 
 of New Brunswick, N. J., of fungi. / • » ''^««. 
 
 Donations have been received from the following: — •' 
 I'rof. John Mucoun, seeds of native plants. 
 T. N, ^yilling, Calgarv, N.W.T., seeds of native planta. 
 W. K. Saunders, Loncfon, Ont., specimens of native plants. 
 VV. Scott, Ottawa, specimens of native plants. 
 J. Doarnoss. London, Ont., snoeimens of native plants. 
 Dr. J. E. White, Toronto, collection of roots o''nativo plants. 
 J. R. Anderson, Victoria, B.C., colleotion of roots of native plants. 
 Prof. W. J. Real. Agricultural College, Mich., grass seeds. 
 J. S. Pearce,& Co., liondon, Ont., grass seeds. 
 Sutton fi Sons, Heading, England, grass seeds. 
 Vilmorin, Andrieux & Co., Paris, Franco, clover seeds. 
 Hon. C. P. Cornwall, Ashoroft, B.C., roots of Leicisia rediviva. 
 J. B. Olcoit, South Manchester, Conn., fine sod of Festuca, Olcott No. 1. 
 W. H, Holland, Torquay, Man., root of Phi/salis grandifiora. 
 Pro. H. Garman, Lexington, Ky.,seed of Kentucky grown Poa pratensii. 
 R. E. Purver, Riversido, B.C., specimens of insects. 
 
 On April 11, Mr. J. A. Guignard, B.A. and B.L., B. Sc. of the University 
 of 1 ranee, was appointed Assistant Entomologist and Botanist, and with his 
 valuable assistance, I am gradually dealing off tho large amount of back work 
 which had accumulated during tho past four years. Mr. Guignard's knowledge of 
 European languages, added to his scientific attainments, has rendered his appoint- 
 m«Dt one of much value in the successful conduct of my department. 
 
 I have the honour to be, sir. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 JAMES FLETCHER, 
 
 Entomologist and Botanist. 
 
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. 
 
 THE IIOr-VJNK liOIU':R, "TlIK COLLAKWOUM OF TIIK HOP." 
 
 {HyJrwcia immanis, (riion.) 
 
 Attack. — Sninll slondtT cntcrpillniH, nbout 
 inch in longtii, marked wif li clKicolafo lirown 
 [»nn<lH of lur^'o incf^nlnr HpntH nn u wliitinh 
 gioiiiiil, Hoparat»-(i by a narrow wliilo flornal, 
 n ilntiblu lutcrul and uti inriUHtij^niaial cloar 
 white lino. Iload wiiito, tho-ncii! Hhiold, anul 
 Hliiul(i and th« Iu^'h drai< brown. ThoHO are 
 found burrowing in the KwJinj^ shootM of hops 
 early in Juno. Lutor, the Maine calfrpinart) 
 are found JuHt boneatlt the Hurlaco of the 
 Pig. 13 Tlie Hopvinn Horor. Hiidrcreia K'ound, atiackint,' the buhort of tiio annual 
 imm./nM. " Htems at tlio collar, where they Hprinjj from 
 
 the root stock. The larvio are, when full ><rown, largo fat catorpillarH, \^ to U inches 
 in length, of a dirty white colour, with roddiMh-brown hoadn and having tho Iwdy 
 spotted with blftckbrlHtle-bearing tubercles. The dark bandw which wore connpicuous 
 in the young larvro are now almost obliterated and quite -.o in wome fpiciniunn. 
 
 In June, 188!l, my attention wan drawn to this inHoct by Mr. Wellitigton Boulter, 
 of Picton, Ont. ; and from several hop growers, I learnt that tlio ravage.-* in w)me 
 sections of Prince lAlward County were contiidorablo every year. Since that time 
 and with the assistance of Mr. S. J. Cotter, Sucretary-Trensurer of the Dominion 
 lIoivGrowers' Association, I have worked out tho life history of this por,t. 
 
 The Hrst notice I find in literature of tho Hop-vino Boror is by Dr. liethune, in 
 the Report of tho Itlntomological Society of Ontario for 1872, page 3;'{, whore a detailed 
 description is given of some larvjo which wore found injuring hops by gnawing tho 
 stems at tho crown. Canadian entomologists have from time to time tried to i<lon- 
 tify that insect. I hAVO now no doubt that tho larvto described were of //. immanis. 
 In tho Canadian Entomologist, vol. XIV, 1882, p. !).'{, is an interostini; article by C. R. 
 Dodgo, oniitled "Tho Hope-vine Boror," in which tho author doscribes correctly tho 
 habits of tho larvro and gives much valuable information with regard to the injuries 
 committed by them. Mr. Dodgo does not give the name, but unhesitatingly pro- 
 nounces it to be identical which tho.so described by Dr. Eethuno. Dr. Lintner in his 
 Second Report. 1885, p. 41, says of this insect; "Our first knowledge of its true 
 character was that obtained from Prof. J. II. Comstock, who at tho annual mooting 
 of the Rnlomological Society of Ontario, hold at Montreal during tlio meeting of the 
 American Association for tho Advancement of Science, in August, 1882, exhibited 
 several examples of the insect, which ho had succeeded in breeding from iho • IIop- 
 grub.' We know of no publication by Prof. Comstock of his study of this insect." 
 
 In Bulletin 4, Division of Entomology, Prof. J. B. Smith, published an extonsivo 
 report of some observations made by him in New York State, umlor tho direction of 
 tho Entomological Division of tho United Slates Departemcnt of Agriculture. 
 
 Prof. Lintner in his article above referred to, which appeared in 188.5, i-opro- 
 duces tho salient pointsof previouK records, and also ad<ls soino further notes of interest. 
 The ravages of this insect have been long known to hop growers in New York 
 and New Jersey States, as well as iho main features of its life history. 
 
 It is, however, by no means a common insect in Canada. The moth occurs 
 rarely at Ottawa, and I have specimens from Toronto and London, Ont. The larvte 
 are described by Dr. Bethune as occuring in large numbers at Erindalo, Ciedit, 
 Ont. In Prince Edward County, whore iho caitjvation of iho Lop bos become an 
 important industry, this enemy has been allowed to increase so much that it is now 
 A serious drawback to tho lucrative cultivation of the hop. 
 
8 
 
 ■XPIKIUINTAI. rXRHI. 
 
 • my LfMuu * Wh ;I Tr^^T ^°" .""';'" '*''^"""' ^'''"'» ' fln** Jo'"* «»» ^ho ground in 
 J'op yard ..re^orv ;' ■" ^'^'' 7'*. ^*"'' ^'" ^^oy b.inK forth ? The ^ruii {,, my 
 
 which i\",ir.i":'2iA^„a^r!;'''"'""" ^'iv'" >'•"»•'''«« "^ ^- •■«-«". from 
 
 "ju Botno molh\ and one specimen of Ichneumon jucundua, BruIW. 
 flncl/i[^t'7o~U?o^m.fx^^7^ KrooniHh white, rounded above, flattened beneath, 
 
 doHtro^^f^rr^th i^.teklrfrn r ^'T. •'.""''T'" '^ "'« contra! nhoot boin^ 
 join.nextbdortLi„.nx? w^ .i,"""^ «"•« P'od"cod from thS 
 
 oatM itH uav mu. f .K^-' /• * ^*^*".' ^fa«.C"terpillar in about half an inch in lon«(h it 
 
 Bt«te^.Zer „; be Jtem^^^^^ '"^^'J'"''^, <f«.^''" «'"""J. ""^ ^''^f. Smith 
 
 ffiowth nf f hll^^ J , * . ** surf aco of the 8oil foodH upwards, inten rnntinjf the 
 
 the moHtlrd^'^'^'.VDiv'V'S' a K%T " """*^" """"^ '^ '' ''■' 
 
 te fo'und Tn the iL eve?, To th„ 'f Ml "^ V?"* ""^ ^^l' ''"* ocoa«ionai Hpecimens may 
 first wfl«l, in A„ '^ V .u . ""Jdleof June. They become full irrown bv the 
 
 annRr«nf 1^ {„ ""'**'*^<^ plants. Tlie injury to the Btoms by the iaiiro carteroiliars in 
 ?fo^8 em .^'.i«?7P'*-.r",^'*^ *'>*'''• »'^«- «™*"- A wound is eSon i,"o the sSe of 
 
 ground close to the root« ^f'^;Ko if 7"/«d it assumeb the chrysalis form in the 
 dark browri. clur olofJ^H ^""^a ^^''^'' • ^^^ '''^'°'" ^ *° ^i '"<^hos in length, 
 
 oToKot:?rom he%^rtr^^^^ fr^sLi'"'"^ " ,* beautiful croafure wife'exS'ed 
 the .ontral area of ^e wLs tS?, r^.?i *'°'°"'' «°;1 *''« y«>v«ty appearance of 
 panded wings The ioT^fnol^,,;^ ^''^'^ T^""'"® ^-^ ^° ^J inches across the ox- 
 ties of S winii i^« n„n . 1 Jl' * -"'^ *"'e^°' ^"'«'» '« ?"•«•■ at the extremi- 
 velvety broni; S s marked" ISfr T """'^ ^'■'^''•' '',«'"i' "''«''«d ^•*'> ^^^rk 
 and reniform The fbre whir „ T- "li^'- ?"'« «P«t« ^nown as the orbicular 
 transverse l^es,X?oxreS.with^lf '".'I'^^r «r«, by narrows, oblique, 
 
 colour, crossed inlrmSrby^XhS dSer L" Vhl "''"^^ "" ?"'?.' 1" 
 marked, but can be di«tin.,ni«i.L i K, T ''*'^«'" ""e- The sexes are similarly 
 Bnifinm,«Z..hL^4n-^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^''•^ '*'"^^'* abdomen of the female and a oon. 
 ■ Thi« m^ik K u "."^ 'f^ extremity ol the abdomen of the male 
 
 
 
 1 
 ^ 
 
 c 
 
 a 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 y 
 
 g 
 s 
 
 ii 
 
 t] 
 
 ai 
 
 tl 
 a 
 
 af 
 

 BK'MiRT or !«■ IKTOllor.oaiBT AND DOTANIBT. 9 
 
 i" his Firit Jteport pa«e \Vb ^ """""* *' """"^ ''"«'*> ''^ ^''"'- limner 
 
 county thiH L»JUZo^be?c^:,'\;^a:fwTr<{:v"a;;i''5 'th '"•''^'"r '"^"^^"'^ 
 «.... K^*"' ^^"^^^®' •" '*''' "'■^'*''« '•^'vo rofei rod to. navn aH follow^ •—" N«v» .» .k- 
 
 of oxpoHing the rSotn buLav« th. t ^Avn oru^^ / >ocommcn(lH thin H«mo troatmont 
 ciont V lonir I m« tI« u,.! YrV^^^ "vo or mx day^, oarly in June, will he a suffl- 
 
 1885 as it waR thin vC h.,f J^.m? h^ *• u^^ ""^1^"^ never boon so heavy since 
 vine " ^ ' ^ Collar-worm and not get too much growth of 
 
 aDDlifi Hn ?L f..n K f ' • ^ ''"^'*^ ^"'* *"* experience with them. WocxJ ashes 
 
 applied in the fall before manurin.r are very L'ood '^— Tamhb Pbawo^ot^ » Ti i^ . 
 
10 
 
 XXPBRIMENTAI. FABMS. 
 
 THE RED TUBNIP BEETLE. 
 
 (Entomoscelis adonidis, Fab.) 
 Attack.— k showy scarlet beetle with three black stripoa down its back, a black 
 patch on the collar and black legs ; two-thirds the size of the Colorado Potatoe-beetle, 
 but narrower in outline, eating the leaves both as larvaand perfect beetle of turnips, 
 radishes, and cabbages. *^ 
 
 t txP^D^A^^^^ P""' season, I have received further reports concerning the injuries 
 i K VT T"/"'P°eetlo to turnips ^jnd other plants of the cross family in Manitoba 
 and the North-west Territories, and I again draw attention to it, as I am convinced 
 that unless It 18 watched carefully, it may, with the increased cultivation of crops 
 suitable as its food, develop into a serious agricultural pest, in the same way as was 
 the case with the Colorado Potato-beetle, when potatoes were grown in large 
 quantities in the districts which were its native home. In response to a request 
 made in ray last annual report, I have received eggs and living specimens, male and 
 lemale, from several correspondents, and have thus been enabled to examine the 
 larvro hatched from some of these eggs, and observe them through all their stages. 
 
 J- • P'^®'^"*'""" '^** not appear to have been so severe this season in some of 
 the districts where they were most serious last year. 
 
 T^ ",4^'J"st 9.— We have very few of the Bed Turnip-beetles this year."— Rev. 
 t. K. Hole, Minnedosa, Man. 
 
 "August 29. — The beetles are not bo numerous as last year. They have only 
 worked on radishes, but I think they are going to multiply, although no eggs have 
 been laid yet."— Joseph A. Smith. Saskatoon. K W.T. 
 
 "September 1.— I send you by mail to-day ^ few Red Turnip-beetles, which 
 have appeared on my white turnips. I have a few rows of white turnips in three 
 difterent parts, within an area of four acres, and on each of the plots the beetles 
 ^'u • ^^ u ^"^"°^' ®°™® Swede turnips are growing between two of the rows of 
 white, but I do not find any of the beetles on these, nor upon some mangels grow- 
 ing alongside the turnips. The beetles seem to be the most troublesome on the 
 driest !ai>d, and where the turnips are smallest. This would appear to be their 
 breeding season, ss many of them are in pairs."— Willl\m Lindsay, Elkhom, Man. 
 
 " September 20.— In reading your report for 1891, I was specially interested in 
 the account of the Bed Turnip-beetle which has this year completely ruined my crop 
 of Swede turnips. My experience with thorn is quite different from that of the 
 majority of your correspondents, as my radishes which were growing only ten or 
 twelve yards from the turnips were almost untouched ; also a few rough leaved 
 white turnips which were growing amongst the Swedes were scarcely touched. 
 Last year I did not see one on the place. I herewith enclose what I presume are 
 the eggs of the beetle; these I found after diligent search very lightly covered with 
 soil. Iho eggs are deposited in masses slightly stuck together, but a very 
 
 light 8hake_^ seems to separate them. I have never seen any grubs on the turnip 
 leaves. Is it possible that they remain under ground ? Two or three days ago I 
 noticed a gravid female crawl under a sod. I marked the spot, and this morning 
 uncovered her ; she was dead, and scattered around her were a number of eggs. In 
 one spot there was a cluster as described above."— 0. E. P. Lowe, Yorkton, N.W.T. 
 September 27.— I have discovered the eggs of Entomoseelis adonidis, I think, by 
 thousands. I first found them on the surface of the ground under some dried up 
 radishes (thinnings of the crop), which had been thrown aside. Following up the 
 clue thus given, I found them under almost ai.y slight covering, and sometimes 
 only under a shade which did not amount to an actual covering. I also found them 
 a quarter of an inch or so urder the surface of the ground by the roots of rough- 
 leaved turnips and radishes. I think the eggs were not placed there, so that the 
 young larvtB might be near suitable food on hatching, but that they are laid almost 
 promiscuously under any slight cover or shelter. Where the beetles are plentiful 
 the oggB are so also in pfoportion, and whoro the booties are soattered wlJely apart 
 as among grass or stubble the eggs are not found; but this is only, I believe, because 
 the search is more difficult. The eggs are laid wherever the beetles happen to be 
 
 
-Rev. 
 
 I'nip 
 s:o I 
 
 
 BEPOBT OP THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. H 
 
 t3°^"^^% "'^''n ^^ Sopt ember and some of the females doubtless lay much 
 ^Thev."-.'IuoB. CopLAtiD, Saskatoon, KW.T >»yuia^a 
 
 n^tnri!^''*^''-^'^!? '^''^'"'^ H*''*' egg-laying habits of this insect in a state of 
 Snll r/^ precisely the same as I myself ob.served with several pairs kept in coa- 
 IhT K K *"'®'" " ™°"'^ "P.^'I? g'''>«''"iJ t«'-nips. Enormous numbers of the nmall 
 irom 01 6 to 80. These were generally tucked beneath any small object on the 
 Tl r?7f i *i ^IT"'^ ^' occasionally into the folds of a dead leaf on the ground. 
 Ilie usual habit, however, in nature is probably that the eggs are laid in clusters 
 beneath sods or in cracks or other openings in the soil. Tvgs laid in September 
 7u,Zn7h '" ""^ ^?'' "^A"*" ''■>: ""^'* November, when they were slightly dampened, 
 anu on the Hecond day afterwards tlio small larvie appeared. This was probably due 
 to the artifacial bout ot the office. In nature the eggs would not have hatched until 
 oSw«,i Fn't"l^'' ^'ur,''*'^ 'T" f""^. '■^"'^''^' "P«" "" •''"J« «f cruciferous plants 
 
 A.Zn f? j".''"^*- .Some seedlings of rape and the small shoots from the 
 Clowns ofSwedo turnips then formed their food until some radishes sown on the 
 aay the eggs hatched, were sufficiently advanced to feed them. This was for about 
 a tortmght, since which they have been fed entirely upon radish leaves, and they 
 
 «ntl«.^.lP."''^r"^ '^""'i^'T- They are very shy and drop from the leaves at the 
 slightest disturbance, and this, I think, must be the reason why they have been over- 
 looked by my correspondents. j j 
 
 The insect takes its scientitic name adonidis from one of its food plants in 
 J.urope, Adonis autumnalis, a plant belonging to the Ranmculacew. It is, therefore 
 possible that It may teed naturally in the North-west upon some of the many plantti 
 ot that order or upon wild Crucifem, and thus have escaped notice in the larval 
 Htage. Ihe eggs hatch early in spring and most cultivated cruciferous crops as 
 turnips and cabbages are not planted until long after the young larva would have 
 starved on cleanly cuiti ated land. On wild plants the lar?ifi would, of course 
 oasiljr escape the notice of ordinary observers, and the presence of the insect would 
 only 00 recognized wu^n the perfect beetles flew to the fields from their breedinir 
 places and began destroying the crop. When once seen the larva) will be easilv 
 recognized by the uniform dull black colour. It is also very advisable that farme.^ 
 in Manitoba and the North-west Territories should know what it looks like, as soon 
 as possible, so as to watch it carefully and keep it in check. The same insect occurs 
 in iiurope where it has occasionally shown its powers of doing injury. Prof Rilev 
 has kindly referred me to the literature of this subject from which it appears that 
 the larva was reported in Hungary in 1865 as having been very injurious to raj.e 
 In l^description of the larva written for the " Annales de la Sock^ Kntomologique 
 de trance," 1890, 11. pp 17M79 by P. Lesne, it is reported as injuring the "same 
 crop in Rouuiania a« follows: " The eggs, of the form and colour of the seed of 
 Canieline * (gold of pleasure) but smaller, are laid in autumn. The larvie appear 
 the following spring, soon after the last frosts, when the winter colza Crape) is 
 beginning to germinate, that is to say, the latter half of March. Larva) and adults 
 are very injurious to colza in Roumania, and in certain years whole crops are 
 destroyed by them. Unfortunately it is very difficult to fight this spe(,ies, especially 
 in counti-ies where at the least 100 hectares (247 acres) are given to the culture of 
 Snl it »°"^''^^^ ^"^'^"'^ '*^ multiplication, while cold and rainy weather greatly 
 
 Remedy.— Ah soon as the beetles appear upon turnips or radishes, the foliage 
 should be sprinkled with Pans Green and water, 1 lb. to 100 gallons. Prom the fact 
 tha<^. the eggs are laid in largest numbers on land where a crop has been attacked, 
 ot course, a sum ar crop should not bo grown there the following season. If the 
 black elongated larvte are found abundantly on wild plants, these should be sprayed 
 ireely with Paris Green and w,".tcr f'v^"* 
 
 •* • P*. ■^^S'— When first laid, orange red in colour, turning darker gradually until 
 itjs^rk brown, elongated, oblong, sometimes slightly curved, 1-30 mm. long by 
 
 * Camtlina tativa. Falae Flax. 
 
12 
 
 EXPEBIHENTAL FAUMs. 
 
 retiSteTir' Jh^ f ^ wl""^*'?; g':«""'«'- roughened ; under th« microscope, closely 
 Ire fVom i ZT^^t 7'^^ '""f white circular marlcH in the centre of each of whicK 
 Six OS ThU- ^ •'''''^", ''°*' ""^ **»' «*"« ««'«»^ «« 'he intervalB between the 
 Z\vILJ»T ^"■^">«'' ™a'k« are not quite close enough together to give them a 
 
 Js t^hf smaEr Th ' ' *^'^' ''"T •? ^'"^ ,*''« '«'•«««' ''^'"g «b?ut three timcB as big 
 denoled hini:* J^/^^"*" '"-'^ i" cI»Htor8 loosely agglutinated together and 
 aepo^ted beneath clods or in crevices of Iho soil. •' == e 
 
 hours wij^^KlZ^H^o'' •'"""' ,''*'''^^J^k?''""S® "^'*h h'"'='^ «P«t8 turning black in 24 
 wWe ^riff; wPf ' ?if""-l^"^' (^'^^ ™'"- ^''«" oxtended); head bmck. -75 mm. 
 SnHv3 rL /n V'" ?* ««terior segments. Each segment bears 2 dorsal 
 W Jl/nHL K •' .f "^J^^k tubercles, from 7 to 8 in each row and each one bearing a 
 
 arfe covoL J\'i''' l^\'^ "''P'*"^' l"'** V™*" '^"^'^ ^* *»>« «P«^- Thoracic shieW* 
 S n wf K^ *^ '^''?'^ ".PP®'' "'''■^''^« °^ segment 2, and bearing about 20 bristles 
 br?«tftj„ >h^«t.gmatal line, on each of segments's, 4 and 6,^8 one large dark 
 tuWoiL ?^ '"'''''',^' ^""'"^ *''^ HtigmatalTine on e^ch side is one series ff large 
 a?8o 2 vlnd^"^ ^^f M^"*"^' T^ ""l '^^'*'h ^^""'^ 2 or 3 bristles. There a?e 
 Sdl Jfn f^i T °f 'f th^"" «'°«^"«'' tubercles. Prom 9th segment, the body tapei-e 
 lapidly to the end. AntenneB conspicuous, protruding beyond the cheeks. 
 
 flntt«n!!rK ■ .?''^\*,' ^^"P^ ^:^^ ™™- (* "™- ^J^en extended); body slug-shaped. 
 cS omdo vTA ^''} ''"i'-«""d«d above, not decidedly narrow at the collar Is in^the 
 bSobed ana? n?^f w 'J*^'",?*^^ ^'1'"''''^'' *" ^'•^"*' '''P^""^ behind to theprehensile 
 bodv vewf hSi.^?'^' ';?J:''u*r^' ^'■\^^''«' ^''Shtly depressed at apex, the whole 
 tffl^^rS ^ ^ ' ^^^.''^''I'sh brown shade in some specimens, particularly beneath 
 iSwfPfo 1?A'^''"'^^ """^ transverse rows of elongated pilifm-ous tubercles, three 
 I^^nH „.H iv'!^'"®"^' «°™PO«e<^ respectively of 8> 6 and 6 tubercles in the first. 
 anZ^i^ltl- !^^a Ji^""^ segment is divided transversally into two folds, the 
 ?ube X. of ^hf *^^ ^/'' ^A',*?"^/ of tubercles and the posterior the third row. The 
 T. S 1 the second and third rows are much larger than those of the firet. All 
 the tubercles the head, and the thoracic and an alshields, are shinine black and 
 covered closely with 6hortbluntfu6Cousbn8tle8,eachtuberc e bearing mfny bristles 
 krrTovS"^7""'i'1'^'"'^- ^^^r'^^' dull greenish black. Thoracic shSdi 
 large covering he whole upper surface of segment 2, deeply impressed and 
 
 corfcaftu br.r '^ "j^.'* ^tV^' «P'.''«^'«« ^« anlnfrastigmatafse^rieZ very laJge 
 «W« nn I '' ""? ^r^''^^ '^'' "S"*'" * supraventral series, half the size of tie 
 above. On the ventral surface are five series of tubercles, the central series occiir- 
 
 S °f K ^"^""^^ ^''^T'^l*- F^,^""^ *' " "''"'''^ «^'gh^'y depressed dorsal groove running 
 from the apex of the head the whole length of^the body, distinct and pale where H 
 crosses the thoracic shield and the third and fourth segments. ^ 
 
 pnln,»; .1'" ^*^*'°'^ "*?"'*' '^"^*'' ^ ^^- C^ """• ^''e" extended); ornamentation and 
 colour, (he same as m previous stage. 
 
 abovf"^"'^ '*'^^' '*"^*^ *''""* ^^ '""'• ^^® ''"''y "^<* appendages as described 
 
 Ti,. ^^^^^'i*"®/^*^*^".^ "'°?'*' *h® *'°'°"'' gradually changed as the larvffi malured. 
 ,tJw1 S'?""^ colour above the spiracles retained its velvety appearance, but on the 
 underside the skin seemed thinner and more translucent, tlTe orange juices of the 
 body showing through it and giving a dull orange hue to that portion. This was 
 ^n..L .?^T ^I?P«':«.°* ;" ""'?«' specimens than in others. One or two pale specimens 
 weie distinctly bi-coloured, black above and yellow beneath: but the general 
 appearance of the matuie larva should be described as an elongated narrow erub 
 fj -^^u t' y«"ow'«b benoalh, and half and inch in length by one-eighth of an inch 
 «V?.n ;• I" confinement the larvae fed both day and night. They were compara- 
 l«lJf «c^'^«i»>"t dropped from the food plant at a slight disturUnce. Beneath 
 S K V """* ^}' counting the head as the first segment, are three pairs of 
 small basr-hke translucent extensile pseudonodia or false feet. These are used 
 as prolegs, and appear to be extended at will from median slits in the ventral 
 fk! fl ^Ji ?.r"''f '^'«' ^^f ^" "^gans and the anal biiobed process are distended with 
 feet ^ ^^^ '^ ^^ '^^ ®^"*' ^*'°® *" progression with the thora r;>i 
 
 • 
 
 / 
 
REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOQIST AND BOTANIST. 
 
 13 
 
 Ur, « i Pupa :— Length, 6 mm. by 3* at widest part; bright orange. The wing, 
 jeg and antenna cases, honey yellow ; head, folded down on the breast. Wing cases, 
 Deanng each three longitudinal strite. Spiracles, round and fuscous. Dorsal vessel, 
 conspicuous as a dark stripe. Metuthorax, bearing a shallow median dorsal groove! 
 J.Uora.K and a median transverse ridge on each segment of the abdomen, closely 
 covered with short bristles. "^ 
 
 Whoa lull grown, the larva9 buried themselves in the earth of the breeding jar 
 to a depth of about an inch from the surface, and changed at once in small smooth 
 cavities to. orange pupte, of a shape very similar to that of other Chrysomelida>, 
 which 18 well shown ,11 Prof. Eiley's figure of the Colorado Potato Bootlo first pub! 
 iished in his first Missouri Report, tig. 46 c., page 101. In the pupa of £. ad07iidii 
 the abdomen 18 more pointed at the ape.x, than shown in the figure. 
 
 in the above instance, the eggs liatched in my office on November 18lh, 1892 ; 
 some larvffl were full grown and buried about January Ist, 1893, and several beetles 
 emerged January 30th. • j > > 
 
 WESTERN BLISTER-BEETLE. 
 
 (Cantharis Nuttalli, Say.) 
 
 ^«acA.— Large handsome beetien, one inch long, with plum-coloured, purple or 
 
 green wing oases, glossed with gold. Head, thorax and body metallic green, with 
 
 the same golden sheen as the wing cases. Peelers, dull black; legs, dark purple. 
 
 ra idi *^^^*'" ^•^'^^^"'^ "P°" ^^"»» a"'^ vetches in July and devour the foliage 
 
 Occasionally reports are received of injuries done by the above named beetle, 
 out during the past season these have been unusually numerous, as shown by the 
 tollowing quotations from some of my correspondents : 
 
 Feb. 4th.— There is in this country, a beetle varying in colour, which is blue or 
 changing violot-green or blue with golden lustre, about an inch long by a quarter 
 ot an inch wide which feeds on leguminous plants and is very fond of both the 
 tender leaves and flowers of Windsor Broad Beans. I will send you specimens n-jxt 
 summer. ^ j i 
 
 f i "a^^}'}^'^} ^^^^ ^,^^ herewith a few of the beetles with their favourite wild 
 tood-plant.* They made their first appearance about July Ist. On Julv 4th it 
 was very hot and they came in swarms, attacking the bloom of Windsor Broad 
 ileans which in some gardens they completely destroyed in a few hours. I 
 partially saved my crop by hand-picking, gathering nearly two quarts from the 
 Deans. J hese beetles are sure to be a serious pest if they attack anything else. 
 
 o ; r""^\T ;77m. ^^^^^^ of tlie Cantharis is quite over now.— Thomas Copland, 
 oaskatoon, JV, W.T.f 
 
 ^^\^u^-~:^^^^^}'^^y i noticed a large number of beetles feeding vigorously on 
 my patch of Windsor Beans. The beans were in full bloom and the insects were 
 just beginning to feed on the blossoms. To-day, the whole patch is destroyed. I 
 send two paira of the insects for identification and any other infoi-mation you can 
 give me. They first devoured all the blossoms and are now feeding on the more 
 tender leaves. 1 have not discovered them feeding on anything but the beans yet. 
 but fear they may try the taste of other garden stutf. I had not seen any this year 
 until yesterday, and although I have noticed a few in other years, they have done 
 no damage that I have seen. Are they known to do much damage to vegetation, 
 ^r ttt'I,^^' ^^*' '® ^^^^ ^®^' ^'^y ^ destroy them ? "— Geoeue L. Smith, Saskatoon, 
 
 "July 19.— I send you specimens of beetles which have totally eaten up some 
 Horse Beans which were growing splendidly, and to all appearances would do well 
 in this country and be a paying crop. But if these pests are native and likely to 
 turn up every year, there would not be the slightest use in ti-ying to grow them, as 
 
 ,"- ,. , r 7 -' .V. pittn^c. r.an _)uu icii mv wiiai Lnoy are aiia 
 
 " ^-hey are liable to come eveiy year ? "— Chbis. Halliday, Winlaw, Asaa. 
 
 * This was Ft'oia Americana, a wild vetoh. 
 
 t Prof. Sftunders found this insect extremely abundant in August upon cultivated tares growing near 
 the Experimental i arm at Indian Head, N. W.T. They were so numert-us that the crop wm niatlririly 
 reduced by their devastations. They were not found upon any other crop at that time. 
 
14 
 
 BXPERIMEffTAL FARMS. 
 
 frora^wLTu kVoSn'' oSj'fK*''' •"tt|:«««ng msoct has neve.- been worked oat, but 
 
 the denarZnrwkh ?rnnr?« if H ^'^^'T'' 'P®''?" «^ blisto.-beetles had been sent to 
 ^GfitflH f h„ H • , ®P^^^ ''^ damage from various parts of the country Ho hiic- 
 
 f hoppe^S^tTeaT' PrS^^^ ""f P'"'^^^'^'^' '^"^ *« ^^'^ C^ri umbers ff 
 
 ago irillinSSs thLK«;fi£ hS^' "'"^ ?'^ r ^'^^ ««»"« o°««^«o" ^hat some years 
 ing a Heaeon of l-reat'lt nd^^^^^^^^ exceedingly and destructively abundant, follow- 
 little foar I think ?Lf?hfKhf, g.-ass hoppers. Judging from the past, there is 
 In Ioo£/ove aVthfriil -"^'J'^PP^"'".'" destructive numbers ev^ry year, 
 
 find that l^ieTare all I TIVV'^'V^"^^ concerning the depredations of this innect,! 
 limited to a f^wwoiLn^ ?f \'" ^""^h"? '''^* V'« ^'""^ ^^ '"J'"3^ ^^""'^ seem to be 
 coud be control 'Id eW h«^1i "^"-P ""if ^' "^^"^ '''P' ^«'* '*« '^PPea'ance, the ravages 
 Tbeattng tt LetS^^^ «'"''P ""''^ '^ "^^ mounted on a handle or 
 
 t4 Whfre th« a I^^Hn t P. ««°'^f»"'"g «»•"« water with a little coal oil on the 
 
 oL^^A^p^^:- rsTest;\T;em^'"^^^"« '--^'y -'^^ ^-'« 
 
 fed upon clover and pea-vines. They did not ho^vever seJm Trelish These pTaS?s^ 
 
 THE BIECH BUCCULATBIX. 
 (JBuccttlatrix Camdensisella, Chamb.) 
 
 4«acA.— Numerous,8lenderpaIegreeni8h 
 caterpillarH, when full grown, J of an inch 
 m length; body, slender, tapering to each 
 end, sparsely covered with fine bristles, the 
 sutures between the segments deeply im- 
 pressed ; eating out portions of either the 
 upper or lower sides of birch leaves, and 
 leaving the epidermis of the opposite sur- 
 face intact. The injuries become noticeable 
 in August when the trees begin to assume 
 a rusty or burnt appearance and many of 
 the leaves fall prematurely. This attack 
 may be recognized by the presence on the 
 leaves of small white ciicular flat webs 
 which are spun by the caterpillars, as tem- 
 porary shelters during the time that they 
 are casting their skins. These have been 
 styled cocoonets by Mr. V. T. Chambeis 
 (Can. Ent. XIV, p. 145) ; but are more pro- 
 perly called pseudo-cocoons by the Editors 
 of Insect Life (Vol. V, p. 16). The true co- 
 coons are spun later and are oblong flat- 
 V -,, „ tened beneath and loncitudinallv ribbed 
 
 Jk^bLfi^TfJ^eu'^^^^f^^^V???^ «;*■: promin^ent ridgeJ, a little 
 
 of s«™; e, anal'sett^ot^e;}, anIi;4S°T*°^."'^'"''V" length, of a pale greenish 
 iiVi!!?i'*i.^^r,;V»'J»«t«ndedpuim8kin:Cmothy®''Ow »* first, but afterwards dark brown 
 -allenla,^. (Kmdly lent^y i>rof. 0. V. ilUey.)Of the colour of the twigs, on which Jh^y 
 
 y of Ottawa, but 
 have been much 
 was most severe 
 
 W 
 
 \ 
 
«l 
 
 BEPORT OP THE KNTOMOLOOtST AND BOTANIST. 16 
 
 (C.n &t xT^D°lM?."''°Ti!,'T^' °' V"' S'T' ^'•- Chambers my, as follow, 
 
 „ ll.V i. j™.!?! J • 'T* ° "T"" O"'""!"'- cocoonee, in wbich tho body of tbe oatoi! 
 C ,1. "^ 1°.'? ' '"""<«•'>»» »I">P« and the 8»ond moalt i, i>3 BmSL 
 i?r„5,r°?°f ■'i"'^'°''P'"" "« ""ternallyfor a few daVrwhon oUhefoS 
 or near the plant, ,t ,pin, the ribbed coeoon in which it paae, the p"pa itote 
 
 3e«ji^nL\'ri^i:L?rtSri^^^^ 
 
 ri^te^oT.!-: rairthtwrnt::'?; t^L jltI'SSS'B 
 f.";rS'b^rTc:,rp,tr-^ °"' °"-" -'" '"'^. - - *-»?•= «' 
 
 pi.iJii\=Teipd°!;!^°'f«f:ar^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 act of beginning its cocoon, and was able to watch the process of coSSim. tk! 
 insect lay extended on the leaf moving only the forepSTus bod^ A^^^^^ 
 
 Bilk 'S?r.rw 7"?°", °^*^". ^"^' ^^«" the foundatio^ne of the ribs were bogin of 
 ft I h^'.^^en^d aln'Oft instantly after exposure to the air. Little blHtt?6 
 
 otwS?H. ™ ° °''' '.r J"""'' 'ogrthoi- by »ill<ea thread, spun from on"to rte 
 and « Sr A r'""";'' "' " "°" completely oneloaed in aS open framework 
 
 colour? '"''' ''"'^ '^''" ^''^"«« •"^'«'^'«' «°<^ the cocoon darkensTn 
 
 01 the insects of this genus is given and also a detailed description of the building of 
 
16 
 
 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 
 
 nl.X^JZ'''^tv^^''wtT.l^^ under the microscope, together with a figure 
 le bvUttletoSnn .^t'**? ^^^ longitudinal riba are Uilt up and strengthened 
 mue oy iittle to bupport the tninsvonjo thread 
 
 requirefunJe/HtI.drVh'"'%''^"'".'^"'* in connection with this little insect which 
 ^ov^mlZhttlii^^^^^ ^^^ '^'^^^^ «™«'l 'ni"«« which I presume 
 
 Ke 7b cLlL±;f. •"?.'" ^^° '■ ^'•«* "'•*««' ''»* I have not actually found the 
 to find o.7t"fK?n f f .!" these mincH, nor discovered the eg^'s. It is important 
 BplrJfTlilul Si' •°"*"*" .^^ the cocoons in which the insects pass the winter. 
 
 onZtwigs Jf appio t^e^ ^'' ^•^*^»""«''' ^nt;, spins its ^eiongate'd whitish coc.on 
 
 slianed l5m«wh„"? rC^T' ^ ^?°x,^ if'^" ""'"*'«'•'' "^ ^he cocoons of another species 
 in cdour tT««! L^ ^''T ^l ^- ^«"«'/«««^'««'/«. hut rather longer and pure white 
 moss u, dor i^^?!^.^'''.^"''''?.^^ ^° ''""^ ^'^^^^ '««^«« and the fruiting stems of a 
 Kofth/Sn ??ff- ^T""^ P^''''*'« that these may have fed upon the 
 to work oil olnI«r? ^f '""rV' S' S""""/ ^^«" ^■««'i^ to spin! I hope next .eason 
 c^ri^tionrf^rSS/it^^ ^"-^^ BuccSatrix. /append a des- 
 
 win^aSr'iirJ "^" expanding I of an inch. General colour, bright brown, the 
 half^wav flornl ' -^^'"^ Tr *® '^'"■'' *'•''«« ^'^t'^^^® '•»" f'-om ^ho outer edge about 
 subtrTamShln,h''"'^%f'''l"''^'^^"^''^^ the apex, and there are two^ahorter 
 
 the TaiZ nnH Si ^"""^ *r rH'" ^'''■^^ ««^'^'««' the anterior of which is s ightly 
 ties of fhi'fo^i^' followed closely by a tuft of raised black scales. At the extremU 
 
 ated into an nt.V ^^ Tk*"''" "*'''®''" ''"'^^^ ^^^""^ "^^'^^ * ^^^ ^^ ^hich are separ- 
 are me bio^n ff''*,*'^ k-'! '"«g"'»'; °»rrow white band. The cilia of the fringes 
 bJown slenZ .h. ri •'^^.' frontal tuft dark brown in the centre; antennae 
 
 bars of h« fnU w- * l-!"^ 'r^- ^'^^''"^ b'^^" ^ith margins including the 
 bases of the fore-wing white. Leg and body pale fuscous silverv. ^ 
 
 for usSn thir7n"^/^ l^'^'TA ^'ag^s of the rfirch Butfculatrix fias been kindly lent 
 aSebJ nr rT{>''^,^'f-.?-^-^"«y'^"'^ ^«« originally used to iUustrie an 
 a"pete'/ii'L''e;.fz^::^ ^'' written^on the species, which 
 
 ON AN EGG PARASITE ON THE CURRANT SAW-FLY. 
 (Trichogramma, sp.) 
 
 Under the above title Piofessor Lintner published in his Second Report. 1885 
 JSifnlnlssf ^?r?*''^fu™'"''*^P^'"''«^te which he had discovered in 1867 and 
 Kv f r^?"^.'''"'"? t*'® eggs of the Imported Curvant Saw-fly in the State of 
 New-York. This injunous saw-fly, the larva of which is usually known to Canadian 
 fruit-growers as the " Currant Worm," is a pest which demands constant attention 
 tbi-oughoutthe summer, and although the ordinary app'ications of Paris Green early 
 in the season and White Hellebore later on when the fruit is formed. - perfectly 
 not^'h^T';.!; ?P *"1 "^P'®' yet there is hardly a district whore plantations may 
 not be found stripped of eveiy leaf during some part of the season It is not well 
 enough appreciated by fruit-growers that if the leaves be stripped from a bush ei.her 
 Slrl!^"*"^ ^'^ ijisect enemies, even after the crop is gathered, they sufier much loss 
 thereby ; for without leaves the bush cannot store up nourishment to support the 
 crop of the next year, and although there might be abundance of flowers, the fruit 
 will drop without maturing from bushes which were stripped the year before. In 
 view ofthe above, the discovery and distribution of a parasito which would keep 
 m check such a redoubtable enemy, becomes an important u attei-. 
 
 1 was therefore very much pleased on the 10th of last. Juno to find unon the 
 leaves of a gooseberry bush in the garden of Mr. R. Montfort, at Galetta^ near 
 Arnprior, Ont., eggs ofthe Imported Currant Saw-fly, which showed evident signs 
 of containing parasites Instead of presenting the usual translucent white appearance, 
 they were shinning jet-black and showed the shape of the pupa of the parasite withn. 
 
BEPOnr OF TUB 1NT0M0LOGI8T AND BOTANIBT. 
 
 }1 
 
 )?5 t.h& 
 near 
 
 Some of the eggs contained two paruHitea in different stages of development whoa 
 aall the eg^ was black and the other half paler. Only a few eggs could be found on 
 the occasion of my visit, but later, through the kindness of Miss Montford, I 
 recei^ a much larger supply of parasitised eggs, some of which were distributed 
 to ditrerent gardens, in the Vicinity of Ottawa, I soon found, however, that the 
 tneridiy parasite was already present in strong force and 1 collected parasitised eggs 
 in all the gardens I had opportunities to visit. The specimens bred by Prof. Lint- 
 ner were identified as Trichogramma pretiosa, a species originally described by Prof. 
 «iiey (Oan. Bnt. 1879, pp. 161-162) from specimens reared from the eggs of the cot- 
 ton moth (Aletta argiltecea, Hiib.) As the specimens bred at Ottawa this year did 
 not seeni quite to agree with the description, some of them have been submitted 
 to ifi'ot. Kiley, together with several specimens bred from the eggs of another intro- 
 duced saw-fly which has appeared in injurious numbers upon Russian Willows at 
 ^"® ,? a"" Ottawa. His report upon them is as follows:— 
 
 "So far as can be seen trom the dry specimensof the two Trichogramraas from 
 jyematus ribesii and If. pallidiventris, they are the same, but no satisfactory exami- 
 nation can be made of specimens in the condition. Trichogramma, like Aphelinus 
 and the other little yellow-coloured, thin-skinned Chalcidids, should bo mounted 
 when fresh in balsam. It is a most difficult thing, however, to distinguish between 
 the species of the genus." I exhibited some of these specimens at the Eochester 
 meeting of the Association of Economic Entomologists, and Mr. L. O. Howard then 
 ttijl me that the genus was a most discouraging one, that he had examined caie- 
 lully under high powers of the microscope some hundred of specimens, but could 
 and no good characters by which to separate the species; the apparent ( haracters, 
 VIZ., m the arrangement of the little hairs on the wing and the number of cells in 
 the uncus of the stigmal club are worth nothing, and vary in individuals reared 
 trom the same batch of eggs. He agreed with Prof, fliley that the only thing to do 
 was to wait until abundant material had been collected, when probably characters 
 tor separation of the species would be found, but it would only be by careful study 
 andasurvey of the entire field. "^ 
 
 SOME OTHER USEFUL PARASITES. 
 
 In addition to the above record, some other equally interesting parasites came 
 ^«S' "^ notice during the past season, a few of which I will mention to show the 
 good oflBoes performed by others as well as these minute and almost invisible 
 inseuts. 
 
 The different species of Trichogramma are minute, four-winged, yellow insects, 
 varying from about one hundredth to one twentyfifth of an inch in length, with 
 tront wings broadly expanded towards the apex and ornamented with lines of hairs 
 radiating from the base. The hind wings are narrow and more deeply fringed 
 
 fi*^'! H ^ ^^^ Pu'*"- '^^^y "''^ parasites on the eggs of many kinds of insects, 
 irequently more than one specimen emerging from a single egg. 
 
 T« iS^^k"''^ °'rn\J,*'??^,'^*'° K^^^^^ Saw-fly {Nematus pallidiventris, Fallen).— 
 In 1891 the Rev. T. W. Fyles, of South Quebec, recorded (Can, Ent,, XXIII. p, 135) 
 the first occurrence of this saw-fly in America. He had reared it from specimens 
 lound upon a lately imported Russian willow growing in his garden. In September 
 Iflfo %'e"r T^'*^ ^*^. fo«°d abundantly ovipositing upon the leaves of t^erminal 
 shoots oiSahx taurifolm in the botanic garden at the Central Experimental Farm 
 ihe eggs are inserted beneath the epidermis of the lower side of the leaves in onen 
 llnlZ «^.f'*o™ about half adozen to one hundred. Each egg is separate, and causes 
 w^ '^!P?**.r*u'°^- ^^^ ®SS« ^'''"h in about ten days, and the voracious 
 It JJ^r^'^t P ^? *^°*'*l! «n*»«ly consuming the leaves as they work down from 
 the top. 1 hey rest when half grown on the edges of the leaves, the carved bodies 
 standing out ike a heavy fringe. They are dark green dotted with black, some- 
 what like the larvffl of the Imported Currant Saw-fly, to the perfect insect of which 
 this also, although brighter-ooloured beai-s a consideiable resemblance. Great 
 numbei-s, ot the egg-clusters, upon examination, showed the dark colour indicative 
 
18 
 
 EXPIRIMENTAL FARMS. 
 
 of the presenoe of painsiteH within the eggs. Leaves enclosed in jars, gave, a month 
 later, HpcoimoDS of the Trichogramma very similar to the species bred from the Im- 
 ported Currant Saw-fly. 
 
 Parasite of the Tiqer Swallow-tail (Paptlio Tumua, L.)— The following 
 instance will illustrate the very small size of the parasites of the genus 
 Trichogramma, and the good work they are oapahle of peiforming will be shown 
 below under " Parasites of the Zebra Caterpillar." On July 11, I found a single 
 egg of Papilio Tumua upon a low bush of Amelanchier Canadensis, T. and G. 
 
 atNepigon. This ogg was shining black in colour, 
 so was cai-efully enclosed in a small glass bottle 
 p-^'^'iSi>^ V'"^ to secure the parasites. In due time they began to 
 
 "^ ^^ /s^ jjf>B^ emerge, and at length no less than forty-one speci- 
 
 mens came out from the one egg, which only 
 measured 1 mm. in height by l-lOmm. in breadth, 
 rv A^ /If MI'UV ^^® species has been identified by Prof. Riley as 
 
 Vijw^ J(\i WUu) T. intermedium. How., a spocieii closely resembling 
 ^\^r V ^it^jr T. minu^um, Eiley, which was originally described 
 rig.Vi.Trichooramnaminutum,miey. O'"" ^}^ ®«g» °^ Limenitis Bisippm, & COmmon 
 
 butterfly. 
 In Mr. Soudder's " Butterflies of the Eastern United States and Canada," is 
 recorded an instance where seventy-nine specimens of Trichogramma minutissimum 
 were bred from five eggs of this same butterfly, making an average of sixteen to 
 each egg. Prof. Lintner states that six specimens of T, minutum have been reared 
 from a single egg of L. Disippus, 
 
 Parasite of the Vancouver Island Oak-looper (^Ellopia somniaria, Hulst.) — 
 The oak trees in the vicinity of Victoria, B.C., have been for man^ years periodically 
 stripped of their foliage, for a few years in succession, by myriads of the larvse of 
 the above named insect ; then for a few years the trees are exempt fi-om injury. 
 Thii^ has been noticed by many of the citizens of Victoria and there has been 
 much speculatiou as to the cause of the sudden disappearance of the marauding hoRts. 
 From material kindly sent to me, and with the valuable assistance of Mr. W. H. 
 Dauby, of Victoria, I have been able to discover several of the causes which 
 periodically check the undue multiplication of this pest. The most efl^ective 
 of these is a fungous disease which has been identified by Prof. Boland Thaxtor, as 
 Sporotrichum globuliferum, Spegazzini as recorded in my last report. This attacks 
 the insect in all stages of development. 
 
 From the chrysalides, Mr. Danby and I have bred numerous specimens of a 
 yellowish Ichneumon fly (/. ccsfua, Cress.) which is easily recognized. The length is 
 about thi'ee-eighths of an iuch,and the whole body is yellowish orange with one black 
 band across the abdomen. Besides this, a new species of Pimpla was bred from 
 pupsB sent to me by Mr. Danby. This has since been named by Mr.W. H. Harring- 
 ton, Pimpla ellopice, 'S.&r. (Can. Bnt. XXIV. p. 99). 
 
 The above-named parasites reduced the numbers of the caterpillars last year 
 enormously, but there was yet another enemy awaiting them. E. somniaria passes 
 the winter in the egg state, tucked beneath mosses or flakes of bark. Very few eggs 
 were to be found on the bark last winter and nearly eveiy specimen of such as were 
 discovered in two large consignments of bark sent by Mr. Danby, were found to 
 be parasitised by a minute black Pi-octotrypid which Prof. Biley informs me is an 
 unflescribed species of Telonomus. Only one egg produced a caterpillar which was 
 bred to maturity in my oflBce upon a growing oak seedling. 
 
 Parasites of the Zebra Caterpillar (Mamestra picta, Harris). — ^I know 
 of no plant or shrub which this bright coloured caterpillar will not attack 
 and it is frequently a source of considerable injury. It was sent in fVom several 
 localitieH during the summer as a pest upon cabbages and potatoes. During September 
 I found upon a plot of Bokhara Clover (Melilotus alba, Lam.) hundreds of clusters of 
 the eggs of Mamestra picta, many of which showed from the colour that they were 
 parasitised. The eggs were laid in a neat close patch, entirely covering the under- 
 
BKPORT or TBI INTOIIOLOQIST AMD BOTANIBT. ' 19 
 
 htt °^H«l!!*?i** J'fu * "P ^ th« edgOB. When parasitised thoy were of a dark leaden 
 ?hn.;p- r ? ■ ''®^® egg.patches %vere enclosed in glass jars and in u few days 
 i M^v K?«„^ P*""?®"" o?a species of Trichogramma and about an equal number of 
 Pil-Y'Si .'^'"■"'"^^i^?'^/*'""** '° the jars, the fornrierof thene wan named by Prof. 
 fJlLi^'if rSr"" /^\'?*J" ^«''^<"»«« (new species). Of the large number of 
 egg-patches of A[. ;>jc<a which were collected, not one per cent gave the caterpillars 
 of the moth, owing to the attacks of these parasites. *^ 
 
 TouA^n''q!L?^''7D' P*'^^*'* Grape-vine Sphinx (Ampelophaga myron, Cram.) and 
 •hn^ f^'M,"" (^'•'''''/'«'"''« '^''«'3. Hub.).--During the past summer both of the 
 IrZl <"*/«'■?•""''» were unusually abundant in western Ontario; very few however. 
 I^Zl^lJ '"'"''' 1° ^"o ^"""Zl^' °" ■''<'°""* °^ **>« "^^tacks of the small Braconid 
 Z Kfit Jfr^'T'^-l'i H- ^'•* ^'^r **^ **•'" '"«««* «'■« '«'d by the female fly within 
 \hl^-^ of a caterpillar by means of a ncodle-like ovipositor, with which she pierces 
 «?!£""• ^P"®**"®" «» "?,»ny a« 200 eggs are laid in a single caterpillar (207 cocoons 
 ?n &« n Yt'** m?*""'"^ ''''"°^*''^ **" * '"«« specimen of the Tomato Sphinx found 
 ILtI^S i*^ The young maggots upon hatching feed on the fatty prtits of 
 their victim and, when full-grown, force their way through its skin, and work them- 
 Belvos out as far as the last joint of their bodies, when they begin spinning their 
 
 email white cocoons, which stand on end and present the 
 
 appearance of fig. 16. From these eventually the small 
 
 active black four-wfnged flies emerge. Besides several 
 
 Fig.l6-Cooooiuof^.«mi^«. Pa^sitised specimens of the Lesser Grape-vine Sphinx, 
 
 ffo<u* on Sphinx caterpillar. Which 1 received from correspondents, there were also 
 
 some caterpillars of the Tomato Sphinx sent in for report. Mr. W. W. Hilborn of 
 
 LieamingtoD, Essex Co Ont., says : " I am glad to learn what you write with regai-d 
 
 to the parasite of the Tomato worm. Never until this season, has the caterpillar of 
 
 !nff i*5'°*T "**"* *'°",® """"^ ?J"'7' ^'>'» y®""" ^^^ tomatoes and potatoes have 
 suffered. In some places whole fields have been destroyed. I have about three- 
 quarters of an acre of early tomatoes that have been injured very much, although 
 we hand picked the caterpillars everv day for some time. A week or two ago wo 
 found a few which were parasitised like the one I sent you. We did not distuTb any 
 of the caterpillars which were thus affected and now there are hundreds of them 
 in fact, there are now (21st August) very few that are not parasitised. I sincerely 
 trust that this parasite will continue its good work." I found on enquiry that 
 pi-actioally the same state of affairs as is described by Mr. Hilborn, existed over a 
 large district m western OnUrio. I give herewith a figure from which the appearance 
 ot a sphinx oatei pillar bearing the cocoons of the beneficial parasite is plainly 
 shown. It will be well if all who see such will endeavour to restrain what 
 appears to be an instinct in man, to destroy everything belonging to the animal 
 world, which they do not understand or which they are not afraid of 
 
 
 DIVISION OF BOTANY. 
 
 POTATO-BLIGHT AND POTATO-ROT. 
 
 The disease known as Potato-rot (Phi/tophthora infestans, de By.) is now well 
 established in all the potato growing countries of the world and causes more loss 
 to the potato crop than all the other sources of injury combined. In rainy 
 seasons it is considered inevitable by most farmers, as a result of the wet 
 conditions alone. This, however, is not the case, and it is important to have 
 It well understood, as soon and as widely as possible, that this disease is due 
 to the attack of an easily recognized vegetable organism belonging to the class of 
 fiingous paiasitio plants, and further that careful exoerimentation ha« proyfld the 
 possibility of preventing a large proportion of the loss by a systematic treatment 
 with certain chemical mixtures as described below. 
 
 Many letters of inquiry having been received from farmers in all the eastern 
 provinces of Canada, I considered it advisable to write the following letter copies 
 
20 
 
 XXPKHIMENTAL t'ABMf. 
 
 Of Which were sent to seveiral of the leading nowspapei-s for publication early io 
 
 bIiirhT*'n7f hlf! """* faotH which should be kept constantly in mind. 1. The Potato- 
 2 ffi. L.^ •"''*'." "'"* ^''« Pot«to.rot of the tuborH are both due to the name cauw 
 when hev are ^ranSTn it''^ '"" ^ '°" V""^' ^- '^^'^ ^'^'-^^t ''«^" '" F>tS 
 
 BlJlEDT roB POTATO-BOT. 
 
 *' Ottawa, July 7tb, 1892." 
 " To the Editor of . 
 
 lo«« ir?!uL7'^^''^^ *'i?/*"^ diseases of field crops which are the direct cause of more 
 
 ^^.,-^l.U^:i::^ re:'der!?XTcVtha?a ;S?ci?a:j&;fJl"erd^' 
 otthirmtr"''' ""' '^"^ '''' '"' '•'"^ ^°' applyinlit is'duHn";; ZttT^'jf 
 the n!,m« nf P?? ^' A''® P^l*'** '" ''"^ ^° the attacks of a parasitic funcus, known bv 
 ows . Ihe fungus pi.sees the w.nter inside the potato tuber and i! nlantod with it in 
 lunnKn th^irrr ?' P"^l° th'ows out 'its shoots, the parasRe "rots ^Jth^^ 
 
 dZs £Z h Thi^f *''' ""'""! °^*^" «'"™«' ""'i f^™ about'^the enl of JuTypro: 
 auces beneath the leaves an abundance of spores, or seed-like bodies The;fl rVa 
 
 fioriiL?ii;.'l""''' ^:'\r P'^^^^^^^ •« Buch^,«rabers'that they fJraently g?ve" 
 l.,P„H n. "»'J'f'*''»'"^f t« the under sides of the leaves. When these sDores arf nrd 
 
 dark hrlwn' 'T'' i^\"PP'"''°'^« '^"°^° «« ''•»«'' «how9 itsoTinTe shZ5 
 fitfl^r TKn . r * ® surface, and reaching the forming tubers produce the rot 
 
 crop o? potatoes ruinT "'^ ''''""' ^'""'"'^ ^" * ^^'^ ***y«' '^"^ «« » '«««•' ^^e 
 
 REHEDT. 
 BOBDEAUX MIXTUBE. 
 
 Copper sulphate c , 
 
 Lime,fre8ll 6 pounds. 
 
 Water ' 4 pounds. 
 
 45 gallons. 
 
 "To make Bordeans misture— Ta- - 
 powdered, and dissolve if in one gal 
 be used, as the vitriol would attack i.., „,„„,„ur ™unn,nr ..™. ,„ „„«».-_. ^^^^^ 
 
 / 
 
aiPOET or THI MTOIIOLOOIST AMD BOTANIST, ' |1 
 
 which will wefiro^ a? roToubtmu^^^^^^ ."" ^ami, ko.kI roHuita 
 
 WHteriPK can« nunpliy with fln^'or?^ be ohta.no.l by applying the mixt.iro with 
 ing pumps in the mrke7 plrh„m Th^ I^" "''" '"'''"■"' •""""'•"'" '*'"J'' "»«r>rav. 
 pump atlachod to rbarrel o. Sou ^f <'0"voniont for this work in a forco 
 Smaller raachineH knowTaH Cm^intq. '^'■"'^'! ^'^?"«'' ^^'^ "«''' 'O' » ''orne. 
 
 small force pum;':rh^rn''borea'E^^^^ « 
 
 pumps can be pmchanod for about $10 to K Tf will hf ^ "^ ^'"''" '""'^" ''^ 
 fields two or three timon to nrnZlt k u '" ,T ""••«''^'"y to Hpray the 
 
 i"j.urinK the foliage witrtheabCemx.;e";;^'His''on¥i'f JIT " "" ?"«" "^ 
 original formula which in generallyTS' ^ '""^ ^''° "^'"""S^'' "^ *»•« 
 
 lime i.: thX5er;rx?a?e\'n'f thTp^^^^^^ stirred while being „«ed. as both the 
 mixture if left undiiXd " ®" ""'' *^"'*'''''^ *° ^'>« ^""""^ of ^"7 
 
 Farm''aLt:t'otY"nxr"t"^n:7^L?r(virf '"^ Z *h ^l"^'-''' Kxperimenta. 
 lb.to90gallon9ofthr£Si'mix '^^^ bemg added in the proportion of 1 
 resultsasanyoftheseverol m x,,?;if/i'^' J'^Vu" •^'^ ^^°'« '' Produced as good 
 at Ottawa tbl Beanon were th^Co oJa^o P^^^ .nBeclK which gave most trouble 
 
 The Cucumber Flea^beltle[im7n^xc«^^^^^^ (i^oryM^ra mineata, Say), 
 
 surface of the leaves, and PwfSmljoZTJv:^^^^^ ""f " """" *'°'«'* '" *»>« 
 
 point for the fungus JIfai-iS2 ,S- f • • '^"Iv*'"'"''" '^ """^ '""'*^'* » starting 
 the Large Rod herald FlSetK iJZ'nf 'T',"- ^ilVi'''"^"- ^«*«'' *" ^^^ «««««" 
 those of the last named entmvAWr-^''"'''^^ ^^^:^ T'"^ '»j""«« ^^'ni'^'" ^ 
 and Bordeaux mrxtnre combLd ''* ^"■' ^'^' '" ^^^^'^ ^^ *»>« P*"« «'««« 
 
 Having had considerable corro^.nondence with Pmf r, R T«n«o u . • . . 
 the State Agricultural Bxneriment S aMvl Tl « r ' T ^- ''° ®'^' ^ot^a^ist to 
 
 were measured off for trial a severe and nVnUnlZ f/**® ^^''f ''^®''« **>« P'o*' 
 of July and lasted till the 2fiM, ^flifof Pf^'o"^®^ drought set in daring the month 
 
 parts Jf^the fi^w^'l^n u?ed\°eyo' d ZteC "ThirdTou^'ht'r"'^*'^^ '" P*^°™^ 
 account of following a very wet June aI!!"*!, d . / ^''^ ^'^^ '"^'■® ^®^®'"o "" 
 last season in this immedTate dr«?;i.t f^ the Potato-rot was far loss prevalent 
 practically no rot amonTthe splaied^ ^^^'^ ^«« 
 
 fioning a4ng those X^hwerePnoTt2ted"' ""''^'^ ""' '''"'' ""^ '''^••*'' '"«"- 
 effect oTfhe'^Sl'J't**'*)"***''^ ««"«'•*'•'««"'*« ^"0 "ost encouraging and the 
 
 spray^^^rier^raSirr^^^^^^^ 
 
22 
 
 ■ XVMmtNTAL fARMI. 
 
 Tho defoliation thl« year of rniiprnyod vlnon wan probablv duo more to th» 
 attBckH of another dmeHHo caunfd hy tho funKUii Afacrogporium solam, and of inHect*. 
 that, by tnotiue Potato-bliKht, Upon apiayed vlnea however thew jere not 
 nearly «o injurious, and althouKh alYer all tho unnprayed vines hwl b««n defoliated 
 the inHoctB congregated in myriadu upon the still Krooi. leaven of tho sprayeti plot* 
 and many of the pTanta were little by little eaten away, enorraou» numbers of the 
 inseclH were founS dead which had paid for their meal with the., lives The impor. 
 tnnce of the foliago being pre8erve<l as long as possible, was shown by the far larger 
 cr.m of thoHo varieties which hold their leaves longest, .md this not so much in th« 
 number of tubers an in their Hize. Two varietios r^'^V w^^/^"^"^*^'®/?!" ^i; 
 power of resisting all enemies were "Holborn A^unuance. ni. 1 the 'St«l«o' «*'"«• 
 The following varieties were also noticeable A! -Intyre.iiinpiro State, at. fatriolc, 
 Clark's No. I, Burpee's Surprise, White Star, M; mTm.th Prolific. 
 
 LAWN GRASSES AND FODDER PLANTS. 
 
 The experiments in testing the value of various foreign and native fodder olanta, 
 have been oanied on in accordance with the plan alreudv treated o{at^ome}entrlh 
 in previous reports. During the past season about one hundred »nd fifty different 
 species and varieties were cultivated at Ottawa, and notes taken of their yield per 
 acre, nutritive value, haruiness and suitability for agr.culturnl purposes One hun- 
 dred and sixty-one collections containing seeds of thirteen of the most promiHing 
 varieties of grasses, in all 2,173 samples, were distributed to be tested in the diffeient 
 provinces of the Dominion. In addition to the abov», twelve larger samples of the 
 valuable Austrian Brome grass were sent out for testing on a '»''K«™«-, „ t^« 
 grass plots proved an attractive feature of the farm work to the large number of farm- 
 Irs anS botanists who visited the Central Farm An interesting addition was made 
 to the collection of fodder plants, i.. the shape of all the diffeient varieties of^lovers 
 of which seeds were advertised for sale by seedsmen in this country and m Europe. 
 These were all sown last spring and made a good growth for the first year, but It 
 remains to be seen how they will puss the winter. r..»o.-a »uk ««r«i 
 
 Attention was also given to the important question of Lawn Grasses, with regard 
 to which perhaps more inquiries are received than any other subject connected 
 with grasses, in interesting bed was laid out in t^e shape of "a grass mosa^ 
 sown in the pattern of the "Union Jack." The plan '[««,«««^««*?^,JP "« ''^ ^J' • 
 V J. B. Ulcott, of South Manchestef, Conn. A plot two rods longliy half » rod wide, 
 was sused fir the purpose. First of all a wide St. George's cross (one foot wide) 
 was cown in the centre with Hard Fescue (J'M<ucad«r.u8cuto);ly.ng over this, the 
 Two entres ineetl^ ', w^is a St. Andrew's Cross of half the width (six inches), sown 
 withi Sheep's Feou^^H , ^■e^.Uca ovina), and the eio-ht angular spaces lymg between 
 Jho 1 mbs of tho t--o ■. "V were scv , t -th different grasses. These were chosen 
 BO asto give tl rr t..t , .riety of colour. In the very centre where the crosses 
 met a small patch of another grass was planted The object of this expenment wa^ 
 to show the unadvisability of sowing lawns with mixtures containing a la>ge num- 
 ber of different varieties of grasses. What is required in a lawn is a swaid of un i- 
 ?orm colour and even texture. This cannot be secured if many ^afl«t;«« »'« ^^^^ 
 together. When examined, grasses will be found to vary very much indeed both in 
 colour and the nature of their leaves, as to width, fineness and rigidity This fact 
 Sa^ wellillustiated by the plan adopted, which attracted the favourab^ notice of 
 Zny V iBitors. The satisfactory conclusion was arrived at that tor good lawns m 
 Cana^da, no grass could compare with the common June grass of ^^' ^^f'\^l'[,^^ 
 pratmss,lj),aho called "Kentucky Blue-grass,'' or Spear grass, and >« J^^'^'ope 
 Looth Meadow-grass. For a permanent bright coUr, evenness of_ growth 
 and foftness of texture, as well as its iron-ciad narainoss anu power t.v "■•^=~V;". 
 Susos, this grass has no equal. It was, too, almost inv^rmbly proclaimed the best 
 in appearance, by all who were asked for an opinion, whether they knew the d ffer- 
 ent gFasses or not. The seed is easily procured, la cheap and is nearly always clean, 
 
BBPOET or Till ■NTOMOLOOUT AND BOTANItT. 
 
 23 
 
 M It ripen. Ite tieed lyttore most of the weedH which grow among graiwe!!. Enouiru 
 Med for a good lar^.. lawn can be gathered in an hour by the roailmdo at the end of 
 June by anyone who will lake the trouble to do ho. After a week this will be dry 
 enough to rub out all f he see.l, wliich may bo nown at once. For a 8uooe«8ftil lawn, 
 the Hoil Hf ould be of g(K.d depth and wdl drained. The aurfVice nhould bo ploughed 
 lovellod, and roll, i smooth in autumn In the Honng it Hhould be again rolled, the 
 8eed Hown and then hsfhtly rolled or i . ..I in. The Heeding Hhould bo thick, in the 
 prmiortion of as much aa 3 to '.i^ bushels f June r-^nn to tl.o acre, to which i lb. of 
 WhiteUover - ny be added. \f the noil b. noi«t, about halt the ahr.vo quantity may 
 bo nnade up ot one of the many tino-leaved i n-^ of Agrostis or Beui graHses, such iw 
 A. atolontfera , but the colour of this latter is . rf" a decidedly diffe ^nt shmlc of greon 
 Rnd It muHt be done with the idea that 'he Bei grasn, if more mtable to the soil, is 
 ultimately toHupplant the June grass. In ihe inosaic mentio' d above the following 
 grassbs were uned. * 
 
 1. Hard KoHoue (Festuca duruscula, 'ark blue-green (hair-Iike leaves), 
 o »^eepH |.oHouo(i?'M^uca<i na), yi twish ^reen (hair-like leaves). 
 
 3. Wood Meadow grass (Pm nemoralL^), iidei ■^ vivid green. 
 
 4. Jul ognu-B, Kentucky Bluo-grass (Poa nraU .<«), bright irreen. 
 6. Ko.* Top {Agrottis vulgaris), pule gr«o- 
 
 Squi lel tail (Hordeum pratenae), pii 
 Eatxmia Pennaylvanica, bright yellow 
 Wire irrass, Canada Blue-grasH {Poa 
 Watei Rent grass (Agrostisatoloniferu) 
 Meadd s^ Foxtail (^Alopecurm pratenais). 
 11. Agroat< scabra, glaucous variety, pale 
 The recogi ition of the colours and varying, 
 ornamental usen for these plants, such as the per- 
 or other orname ital patterns on law ns. 
 
 Chiss ( Bromua secih 
 
 6. 
 7. 
 8. 
 9. 
 10. 
 
 iucous green, 
 een. 
 'Mm), dark purplish green, 
 ale yt^'Uowish green, 
 irker green than No. 5. 
 n (huir-liko leaves), 
 ftures of grasses suggests many 
 iicfit marking out of tennis courts 
 
 I^). 
 
 ho request of one of ray corres- 
 d and Pall wheat, with the pur- 
 
 In my annua report for 1891, I stated that a 
 pondents I had pi nted 100 grains each of Chess . u a„u ran wneai, wita the pur- 
 pose of proving th it, m the first place. Chess would c ne true from seed and produce 
 seed trom which ( hess and nothing else could be gro n; and secondly, that no ad- 
 verse treatment CO id produce a plant of Chess fro, n grain of Fall wheat. As 
 stated, 100 grains . ^ch of Chess and Fall wheat wort sown in September, and each 
 grain was marked ith a small picket. I had a witness present with me during the 
 Who e sowing )peru on, according to agreement. In addition to the 100 grains a 
 single row 8 teet Ion and 2 inches wide was also sown of each kind of seed ' 
 
 «„f.,i cTqo !® ^1" 1 ^^^'^ ?" germinated and appeared above the ground in the 
 autumn of 1891 In he spring of 1892 it grew rapidly, as soon as the snow water, 
 which lay on It for fortnight soaked away. The flowering panicles appeared 
 May 2Y, and the 8ee(i vas ripe by the end of July. The single vow was ciit down 
 twice and continued tr rowing up flowering spikes until September, 
 the ut ^^f^'jg"^"^^ of the seed germinated and appeared above the ground iu 
 
 During the winter of 1891-92 the snow was shovelled off half the bed three 
 ^!!^u\^?J'^ to expose the wung plants to the weather. In the spring, water lay 
 on half this plot for a 1 utnight after the snow melted. In April half the sinjrle 
 row was stamped down into the muddy ground with the heel of my boot and tlio 
 other half was cut off ol. ^e to the ground with shears. After this the plot was left 
 
 BESDLTS. 
 
 Chess.— 'Ne&vly every grain grew and produced 
 many stems which bore an abundance of seed. 
 
 Fall Wheat.— ilany plants of ^he 100 were drowned out by the water lyinc on 
 them m spring; 42, however, grew and all produced Fall wheat. Of the single row, 
 
 a strong plant of Chess with 
 
u 
 
 XXPEBIMBNTAL TARMS. 
 
 both the plants which wero Atamped into the muddy soil and those which were oat 
 down, grew equally well with the othei*s and all produced Fall wheat. 
 
 To the above record I ^ill add that of a ttingle row of Chess sown in the spring 
 of 1892, only one plant produced flowers that year. The plants went into the winter 
 in healthy oonditioD and will doubtless dower next spring. 
 
 In view of the above, I repeat again what I said last year; " There is only one 
 remedy for Chess — to sow clean seed-wheat in clean land." If this be done there will 
 be no trouble with Chess. Some thousands of farmers had this experiment brought 
 under their notice during the season, and I trust that some of them may have been 
 convinced that Chess cannot be grown from the seed of Fall wheat, whatever adverse 
 oircumrttances it may pass through, any more than a rose can be grown from an 
 onion seed. An illustration of the absurdity of the contention frequently put forth 
 at Farmers' Institute Meetings, that Choss is a bastard grain and, therefore, cannot 
 produce seed, is the fact that it is now largely grown in Oregon and Washington 
 States as a hay grass. It is claimed to have a special value from growing on land- 
 impregnated with alkali and unfit for the cultivation of Timothy. Mr. W. Ta8ker,of 
 Ladner's Landing, B.C. writes. " I received some rye grass seed from Canada four 
 years ago and found the following summer that it was nearly all Chess. I cut it for 
 hay and tlie horses ate it well. Later, I was at Salem, Oregon, at the State Fair 
 and saw the same grass among others labelled " Brome Grass. In speaking to the 
 Manager of the Experimental Farm he told mo that it made fair hay and if sown in 
 the fall on land which turns white, a good crop of hay could be cut the following 
 summer. It occurred to me that this meant alkali land. I afterwards learnt that 
 it was a good deal cut and when Timothy was worth $10 per ton, it was worth $8. 
 It is from three weeks to a month earlier than Timothy. When I came home from 
 Oregon I gathered enough seed to sow half an acre. It yielded well and I harvested 
 enough to sow nine acres of fallow with Chess and Red Top, and twenty acres of 
 Chess and Timothy sown only on the surface, the other was harrowed in. The hay 
 , has the appearance of being good. I would not recommend sowing Chess where 
 Timothy will do well, but in the North-west where there is Alkali in tLe soil it 
 might be well to try it. Chess can be sown in the fall, a crop of hay reaped the fol- 
 lowing June, and the land then fallowed. I sow at the rate of 50 or 60 lbs., to the 
 acre. Some complain of having Chess in their Timothy, I told one man he could 
 get rid of it by cutting before tne Chess had seeded when it will be done with, as it 
 is only an annual ; but if it is cut very early it will grow again from the roots, like 
 oats cut for hay. Feeding oflf with sheep will finish it. When grown with Timothy, 
 if left until the latter is ready, the Chess seed has fallen to the ground. Chess is 
 hardier than Fall wheat. I had some last winter which was covered 8 inches deep 
 with salt water for 3 days, and yet it came through all right. I never heaixl of 
 Chess growing from Fall wheat or of killing pigs by the moon until I came to 
 America." 
 
 The following letter containing much valuable information on this subject, 
 has been received from Professor Moses Craig, Botanist of the Oregon State Agri- 
 cultural College, in reply to an enquiry : — 
 
 " CoEVALLis, Oregon, 15th November, 1892. 
 
 " In reply to your letter of enquiry regarding the use of Cheat as a forage plant, 
 I would say that in this (Benton) county, Chess (meaning mainly Bromus secalinus, 
 L., though B. racemomi and B. aterilis are occasionally mixed with the above), 
 grows w^U, and is considered by most farmers to be as good as Timothy, selling 
 readily for the same price — $12 a ton. This applies mainly to the hill regions, as in 
 
 tViA irallATra /\fUoi» rpnaaoaa nan \\a TknoflfoKlir crmtirn 
 
 " It endures the dry dusty summers much better than Timothy (Phleum pratense, 
 L.), and is often sown in ' slashes ' or freshly cleared and burned over land, where 
 it makes a good stand. In the ranches of the Cascades when mixed with Wild Oats 
 (ilv0na/atua, L.), it forms the entire food of cattle. \ 
 
SIPORT OF THE ENT0M0L00I6T AND BOTANIST. 
 
 25 
 
 " Perhaps I can best answer your qnefltions by giving the views of my corres* 
 pondontf) : — ► 
 
 E. P, Williams, Lane County, says:— I sow Cheat for fodder, and find it excel- 
 lent for all kinds of stock. 
 
 J. Bagley, Polk County, says : — Yery good hay for cattle and sheep. 
 
 S. P. Eeeder, Washington County, says : — Cheat grass makes good hay for 
 horses or cattle. 
 
 0. D.^teon, Linn County, says : — Wild Oats and Cheat make good hay if cut 
 green. • 
 
 E. F. Messner, Josephine County, says : — Chess makes good hay for horses, 
 sheepand cattle. 
 
 Wm. Miller, Lane County, says:— I feed Cheat to horses and cattle, and con- 
 sider it a fair quality of hay. 
 
 J. D. Hayes, Josephine County, says: — Chess makes fair hay for cattle. 
 
 J. G. McCune, Linn County, says: — I consider Chess of great value as hay for 
 hordes and cattle. 
 
 Ernest Eggerth, Umatilla County, says : — Have used it to feed stock and horses. 
 Cheat hay made when in bloom makes good hay, but not equal to Timothy. 
 
 G. R. Stephenson, Multnomah County, says : — I consider it of no value. 
 
 S. W. Miles, Polk County, says • — Wild Cheat not of as much value as the tame 
 hay. 
 
 ^ L. P. Williams, Clackamas County, says :— Wild Outs and Chess may have some 
 value as feed if cut early enough, but as they open before Clover and Timothy, their 
 value is limited." 
 
 " I think that Chess grows much better on • white land ' or soil impregnated with 
 alkali than does timothy and other tame grasses. In regard to the time of sowing 
 Cheat for pasture, some sow in the fall, giving a spring pasture, others sow in th6 
 spring for late summer pasturage. For hay the seed is usually sown in October. 
 
 Opinions differ regarding the value of Cheat, but in the mountains, foot-hills, 
 and on white land, large quantities are annually saved for hay, and for these locali- 
 ties there is nothing to take its place except Wild Oats. 
 
 In the valleys no one raises it, as other grasses will give better returns there." 
 
 I have reproduced the above letter in full, as it contains much that may be of 
 use to British Columbian and North-western farmers.