262 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



given by their beauty and abundant production of roses ; and since the insect is double- 

 brooded they should be examined late in July again, and, if any worms make their 

 appearance, the remedy applied again until they are destroyed. They can be easily seen 

 with the naked eye by turning the leaf over during the day time, and since they attack 

 all kinds of roses all should receive attention alike, whether choice perpetual or single 

 ones. 



The Strawberry-worfn. — The strawberry vines throughout the State are much troubled 

 with the worm of the saw-fly known as Eniphyi-tus tnaculatus {^ox\.ori). During two 

 visits, made in the past two years, at Morris, Illinois, I found the Wilson's Albany 

 greatly injured by them, and the yield of berries unpromising. The worm has been 

 known to appear in Illinois for some time, but only within the past five years to any 

 serious extent. The matured insect is a four-winged saw-fly, which awakens upon the 

 approach of warm weather from its home underground, and emerging, inserts the eggs 

 in the stalk of the strawberry vine. In from ten to twelve days, according to the tem- 

 perature, these eggs hatch into small, light green worms, much resembling the cater- 

 pillars, with the exception of the greater number of prolegs, the same as in the young 

 of the rose-slug, as explained in a previous article. During the day time the strawberry 

 worm is found upon the under side of the leaf, and when disturbed has the habit of 

 curling up and falling to the ground. At night they do the most damage and come 

 upon the upper surface of the leaf. Instead of eating the entire leaf they eat circular 

 holes, and their presence in a field is at once detected by their peculiar manner of 

 feeding. They also prefer the older leaves to the young and tender ones. 



They complete their growth in from two-and-a-half to three weeks, and then 

 descend into the ground some five or six inches and change into the chrysalis. 

 This complete change is undergone by the time the strawberries commence ripening, 

 and the harm is thus done at the most discouraging time of the year, since all appli- 

 cations must be made with reference to the berries partaking of the medicine as well as 

 the enemy. Mr. Riley says they are double -brooded, but I have thus far failed to 

 obtain specimens of the second brood, and Mr. O. B. Galusha, of Ilorris, informs me 

 he has watched carefully for them, and to his knowledge they have not made their • 

 appearance twice the same season. Mr. Riley has undoubtedly studied them farther 

 south, and similar to other insects they may prove double-brooded where the seasons are 

 longer. 



Dr. Hoffmeister, of Iowa, reported the appearance of the insect in the years '73 

 and '74 to an alarming extent, and stated that the blue-birds and chipping-sparrows fed 

 upon them greedily. There have as yet no parasites made their appearance upon the 

 worm, and remedies tried of a simple nature have failed to meet the desired effect; 

 while such remedies as white hellebore are too expensive to be used on a large scale of 

 frnm ten to fifteen acres of ground. The only practicable means of combating them 

 effectually is by plowing up the vines while the insect is in the larval state, thus starving 

 them and preventing the future increase ; or scattering dry straw over the vines and 

 burning them would perhaps answer, since in the latter case the roots of the vines 

 would still live, and the loss would be the crop of berries. If the second brood would 

 appear this could be done after the berries were ended, since Mr. Riley says they appear 

 the second time in August. We have thus to lament the non-appearance of the second 

 arrival. They are found in Peoria the present season quite numerous. 



The following resolution was presented and unanimously adopted : 



Resolved, That the thanks of this Society are due to Miss Smith for her able and 

 most instructive lecture. 



On motion of Dr. Humphrey it was voted that Miss Smith be made 

 an honorary member of this Society. It was also voted that when this 

 Society shall adjourn it shall adjourn to meet at the residence of Mrs. 

 Rugar, on May 20th, to discuss the subject, "The Influence of Forest 

 Growth and other Agents on Rainfall." The Society then adjourned. 



