80 THE CAXADIAX ENTOMOLOGIST. 



soot, used as a preservative compost, are healthier, although surrounded 

 with diseased vines.'' 



We give the above extract for what it is worth, and hope some of our 

 correspondents will try soot and report the result to the Department, as 

 we have scarcely any of these destructive insects in our own immediate . 

 neighborhood. In reference to this insect, the grape-root gall-louse, the 

 Department has received a very interesting letter from Mr. George W. 

 Campbell, of Delaware, Ohio, in which he expresses his opinion that the 

 aphis (pemphigus) affecting the leaves and that upon the roots are not 

 identical. He says : 



" I have since then found in two instances what were doubtless eggs of 

 the phylloxera (root- gall-louse) upon diseased roots the same as those 

 within the galls, but solitary, and not in clusters as in the galls. This, I 

 think, settles the question that the aphides infesting the roots are propa- 

 gated under ground, upon the roots, and that they are probably not the 

 same as are propagated in the galls upon the leaves." 



Mr. Campbell also sent specimens of the roots injured, together with 

 numerous root gall-lice clustered upon them, but although carefully ex- 

 amined with the microscope, we failed to find any eggs whatever upon 

 the roots Sent. These roots, however, have been planted just as received, 

 with the insects upon them, in a fiower-pot, and placed in a large wardian 

 case in close contact with other pots containing healthy vines, in order 

 to find out if the insects will pass from one vine to another during the 

 winter, and if the healthy roots will next season be infested with either 

 root or leaf gall-lice. We give Mr. Campbell's remarks merely to stimu- 

 late further inquiry into the identity of the two insects, as many naturalists 

 have stated them to be merely varieties of the same insect. In France, 

 it appears that flooding the vineyards at certain seasons to drown the 

 insect out has been recommended, but this plan, even if successful, could 

 only be carried out in level places, and could not be adopted in side-hill 

 vineyards. — Monlhly Report of the Department of Agrieulttcre. 



Correction. — We would draw attention to an error which appeared 

 in Dr. Summers' advertisement last month, and which will be found cor- 

 rected in the present issue. It is in reference to the time up to which 

 shares may be secured of the materi-^ ^o be collected in the lengthened 

 tour he is about to undertake. It sL jui. be up to December, 1874, instead 

 of April ; after that date specimens only will be for sale ; we have a few 

 yet to dispose of, — parties desiring them will please address our Secretary. 



