92 STATE BOARD OF ACxRICULTURE. 



A TALK ON FARM INSECTS. 

 ]!Y PROF. BEAL. 



The professor said lie would not give any set paper, but would give remedies 

 for any farm insects of which the audience would like to hear. The first 

 insect discussed was the squash bug. 



Mr. . — I kill the squash bug by catching them on boards. 



Mr. . — I dust sulphur on the plants. The bugs don't like it and leave. 



Question. — What is the insect that is on the under side of turnip leaves? 



Prof. Beal. — Plant lice probably. Whale oil soap made into a strong suds, 

 and thrown on the under sides of the leaves is probably the best remedy. 



Question. — How about the cabbage worm? 



Prof. Beal. — It is a foreign worm. The majority of our insects are foreign- 

 ers naturalized. They do better here than in the old country because their 

 enemies have not come over with them. But few cocoons of the cabbage worm 

 will hatch this year, — the parasites have destroyed so many of them. Mr. 

 Skeels, a graduate of the College, found that only 40 cocoons out of 500 that 

 that he had gathered were alive. The rest had been eaten by parasites. 



Mr. Eose (Editor Pioneer-Magnet). — A German lady recommended my wife 

 to sprinkle salt on the cabbages. We tried it and raised good cabbages. A 

 soft sluggy worm has been feeding on my cherry and ash trees. What remedy 

 would you recommend? 



Prof. Beal. — Sprinkle dry road dust over the trees. That will use them up. 



Question. — What remedy for the currant worm? 



Prof. Beal. — White hellebore is good. 



Question. — How can we destroy caterpillars in apple trees? 



Prof. Beal. — They may be destroyed with a shot gun when they are in their 

 nets, or they may be wiped out. 



Question. — Are the tent caterpillar in apple trees the same as those on the 

 wild cherry? 



Prof. Beal. — Yes. They are more fond of the wild cherry. 



EVENING SESSION. 



"Horticulture at the Agricultural College." By Prof. W. J. Beal. (See 

 lectures at more than one Institute. 



Sherman Upton, of this city, who is a student at the Agricultural College, 

 followed with his ''College Life Illustrated," embracing a series of cartoons 

 and crayon sketches. They are admirably executed, and humorous and ludi- 

 crous in the extreme, showing both talent and originality in design on the part 

 of their author. The display of cartoons created much merriment, and con- 

 stituted a very appropriate closing chapter of the Institute. 



President Vincent spoke briefly, congratulating the farmers of Mecosta 

 county, on the success of their Institute, after which resolutions were unani- 

 mously adopted, tendering thanks to the Agricultural College, Professors and 

 others from abroad, for their assistance and instruction ; to the Glee Clubs for 

 their music, and to the people of this city for entertaining visitors, when the 

 Institute was declared adjourned. 



