228 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



injurious species. After considering the various conditions limiting the 

 applicability of this means, he drew the following conclusions : — 



(i) That there are diseases amply sufficient as a basis for economic 

 work, the bacterial forms giving the most promise for all cases where 

 early results are desired, while those due to fungi, so far as present 

 knowledge goes, propagating slowly, can only be used as slow but 

 efficient checks to injurious forms, the most that we can do with them 

 being to introduce them in localities where they are not already found. 



(2) That the diseases can be controlled to the extent of preserving the 

 germs for a season and transporting them from place to place to use for 

 inoculation, but that their spread in nature will be affected by conditions 

 beyond control, while only such insects as occur gregariously, or live in 

 mingled hosts, can be attacked to advantage. 



(3) That the cost of application would prevent its adoption except in 

 certain forms. 



(4) That we must consider this method of contending with insects at 

 best as but one of a number of profitable methods to be used in certain 

 cases where other methods are insufficient, and to supplement other 

 methods when it can be done to advantage. With this end in view, 

 the diseases of insects are worthy of the most careful study, and will not, 

 he thought, disappoint the investigator in their final results. 



Mr. Fletcher thought that the chief difficulty with regard to these 

 fungous diseases was their cultivation so that they might be available at the 

 time when needed. One trouble with him had been carrying them over 

 the winter. 



Prof. Hargitt spoke of a fungous disease which had attacked the 

 canker worm. 



Prof Cook thought the greatest difficulty in making use of contagious 

 diseases for the destruction of insects was the fact that the insects which 

 it was desired to treat were not always in a susceptible condition. 



Prof Garman thought that although fungous diseases were difficult to 

 introduce, bacterial diseases would probably be more controllable. 



The meeting adjourned till 5 o'clock. 



Prof. Atkinson spoke on the " Injurious Insects of Alabama." A 

 bud worm had be'en extremely injurious to young corn, piercing the 

 central shoot and destroying its growth. Dlabrotica 12-punctata had 



