]U 



THE AGRICULTUKAL NEWS, 



AriiiL 17, lOOD. 



destructive moths. Altogether thirtv-five species of 

 these beneficial insects have been imported, and it is 

 believed that many of them have become established, 

 and will in a short time exert a considerable influence 

 in the control of the two moth's. 



Another very serious pest is the small dipterous 

 insect known as the Hessian fly. This insect, which 

 attacks wheat and other cereals in many parts of the 

 United States, is closely related to the Flower-bud 

 Maggot, and the Red Maggot of cotton. In (it-aling 

 with this insect also, the Bureau of EntomoloL'y has 

 devised cultural methods for its control, and it has 

 found that it is possible to use, in a practical way, 

 certain parasites of the riy. The Hessian fly is one of 

 the most destructive in the United States, the losses 

 to the farmers sometimes amountint; to as much as 

 !iJIO,000,000 per annum. Any results which elft-ct 

 a saving of a (air proportion of this loss will ea.^ilv be 

 seen to be of great benefit to the country. The iniro- 

 duction of these parasites into districts where thev had 

 not previously been found was followed bymarkeilly 

 good results. 



The White H), which attacks citrus fruits in Florida 

 has also been under investigation. A special agent 

 with ample assistance was located in Florida, and life- 

 history studies of the pest were made. E.xperimenis 

 were carried out in the introduction of parasitic insects, 

 and in the encouragement of fungus diseases which 

 affect the white fly, as well as in the use of insecticides 

 and gases, and much information of distinct value has 

 been gained. 



The insects atfectini: tobacco, those daniawinc 

 •deciduous fruit trees, and others injurious to vegetable 

 crops have all been the subject of s[)ecial investigations 

 during the past year. Bee culture, especially the 

 problems connected with the prevention and cure of 

 laee diseases, and silk culture have also been studied 

 by experts in these particular branches. 



In connexion with inserts injurious to forests, 

 information of practical value has been acquired and 

 disseminated amongst those most interested. 



The insects which carry diseases to man and 

 domestic animals have been the subject of special 

 investigations. In recent years, since the relation 

 between insects and the- spread of certain diseases -has 

 come to be better understood, mosquitos and Hies have 

 been of greatly increased interest, and consequently 

 have come in for more thorough study than ever before. 

 The Bureau of Entomology is stated to have nearly 



finished a complete Account of the mosquitos of North 

 America. 



'I'he life-hi>tor_^of the Texas cattle tick has been 

 continued in co-operation with State Entomologists, 

 and many important points having a direct bearing ou 

 the methods of contfWl of the tick and of Texas fever 

 have been obtained. A parasite of one of the ticks has 

 been found, which offers hope that natural methods of 

 decreasing the abundance of ticks may yet be learned. 



It wdl be seen from what has alread}' been said 

 that the Bureau of .Entomology interests itself in all 

 lines of investigatioh and research where insects (ye 

 concerned. 



'I'he Bureau of Biological Survey, among other 

 interesting lines of investigation, has carried on impor- 

 tant researches as to the value of birds in their relation 

 to agriculture. It has been found, in thi.s connexion, 

 that birds generally^'are of considerable value to the 

 agriculturist. It is only rarely, and in the case of certain 

 species, that birds do more damage to fruit and other 

 growing crops than is compensated for by the numbers 

 of injurious insects that they destroy. Not only are 

 the larger insects destroyed, but it has been fouml 

 that there are some ^fifty-seven species of birds in the 

 United States which feed upon scale insects. 



Other subjects "which eome under the ranoe of 

 investigations of this Bureau include the traffic in cace 

 birds, the study of rats, rabbits, field mice, wolves, etc., 

 and the protection and introduction of game. 



The Bureau of Biological Survey also makes 

 a study of the geographic distribution of the fauna and 

 fiora of the country, and life zones and crop zones have 

 been mapped, each characterized by certain conditions 

 of temperature, and by the presence of particular 

 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and plants. 



CarriaCOU. The figures given in the AutiiKtl Report 

 of the Oonunissioner of C'arriacoi; .-ijiow that the value of the 

 fxiiort.s in 1 90S (excluding .sl;i|inients of [)rodu(;e marketeil iit 

 Oienada), was .£111,417, or an increase of over £•'3,000 oon»- 

 pared with the returns for 1907. The chief items were cott.m 

 (Marie (Jalante and Sea Island varieties), £1 1,571 ; cotton seed, 

 £2,896 ; goats and sheep, £(>90 : aiid poultry, £564. The 

 greater value of the exix)rts conijiared with the previous year 

 i.s stated to Ije chieHy due to tiie increa.sed output of Seat 

 Island cotton. 



Reference is made by the Coniniissioner to the ver3r 

 satisfactory growth made hy lime trees at the K'xperinieuti- 

 Station. Some of these trees, which are no more than four 

 and three-(iuarter years old, are from 20 to 25 feet high,, 

 anil have already borne fruit for two years. On one estate 

 at Carriacou (that of Mr. Tom Archer), about 50,000 liiue 

 trees have been planted out and are well estaViHslied. 



