16 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 



World of an insect described from the Old World, especially when it 

 happens to be restricted in its distribution, to ascribe its presence 

 to artificial introduction, when a more complete study of its geo- 

 graphical distribution might conceivably indicate that it was 

 indigenous. Our native insect fauna is far from well known. 



Be that as it may, Cryptococcus fagi appears to be well dis 1 

 tributcd in the Halifax district and its serious effects on its host 

 plant, which it usually kills in England and Europe, where I have 

 had the opportunity in the past of studying its occurrence, renders 

 it desirable that care should be exercised to prevent its spread and 

 efforts made to eradicate it on ornamental trees. Theobald (Re- 

 ports on Economic Zoology, S. E. Agric. Coll. Wye, England, 

 1905-1912) gives abundant testimony as to the destructive nature of 

 this insect. As a result of considerable experience he has found 

 the Woburn Wash of Mr. Spencer Pickering the most successful 

 remedial measure. This is made as follows: Soft soap, 3^ lb.; 

 paraffin oil (kerosene), 5 pints; caustic soda, 2^ lbs.; water, 9^4 

 gallons. The soap is dissolved in hot water, churn in the oil and 

 when well mixed shake in the soda and churn thoroughly, and 

 bring the quantity up to ten gallons with water. This wash is 

 applied during the winter and two or three applications should be 

 made. An effective summer wash is made from soft soap and 

 paraffin (kerosene). Boil 8 lbs. of soft soap and five gallons of 

 paraffin (kerosene) together, and, while they are boiling, add one 

 pint of cold water and stir the mixture well. On cooling it becomes 

 a jelly, which may be stored in pails or boxes. To use, add 10 lbs. 

 of the jelly to every 30 gallons of water. It has been found that on 

 ornamental trees the best results have been obtained by scraping off 

 the felted masses of Coccids and scrubbing with the paraffin wash. 



Owing to our Regulations under the Destructive Insect and 

 Pest Act, it is unlikely that this pest will be introduced on beech 

 trees imported into Canada from Great Britain and other parts of 

 Europe, as all such trees are. carefully inspected. Eurther, I am 

 pleased to say that Prof. Brittain, Provincial Fmtomologist of 

 Nova Scotia, of the Agricultural College, Truro, N.S., is making 

 a careful investigation of the Halifax outbreak. 



19th November, 1918. C. Gordon Hewitt, 



Dominion Entomologist, Ottawa 



