50 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



beetle, and if they do eat it, whether any injurious effects will follow. 

 We obtained much contradictory evidence on this point. A few people 

 asserted that some of their poultry had suddenly sickened and died, 

 after eating freely of the insect, while others stated that their turkeys, 

 ducks and fowls had eaten the larvae greedily, and with perfect impunity. 

 The evidence is so evenly balanced, that we are unable to give any decided 

 opinion. We hope some further experiments will shortly be made, and a 

 definite conclusion arrived at. 



SUGGESTIONS. 



Paris Green, which we regard as the most practical and efficient 

 remedy for this insect pest, is, unfortunately, as found in commerce, a 

 substance most variable in its composition. It is an arsenite of copper, 

 and the best qualities contain about 60 per cent, of arsenic, on which its 

 activity depends ; but the inferior grades contain a much smaller per 

 centage, and are proportionately less effective, and sometimes almost 

 worthless for this purpose. It is highly important that the public be 

 supplied with a good quality of this useful material, and at as low a price 

 as possible, as an encouragement to its use ; and Ave would strongly urge 

 on the Department the expediency of making such arrangements with the 

 wholesale dealers in Toronto as will enable farmers and others to obtain a 

 reliable preparation at a stated uniform price. We would further suggest, 

 that, for convenience sake, the Paris Green be made up in packages con- 

 taining one pound each, with printed directions for its use, and cautions 

 regarding its poisonous qualities. 



We would also recommend the department to strongly urge upon 

 farmers to plant in future only such quantities of potatoes as they can 

 well look after. One acre, carefully cultivated and watched over, will 

 probably yield more gross results than four or five acres, if neglected ; 

 indeed, wherever the beetle is numerous, negligence will lie sure to be 

 repaid by the utter destruction of the crop. 



ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 



We cannot conclude our report without acknowledging the valuable 

 assistance we received, during our tour of inspection, from many persons 

 to whom we applied for information. Much anxiety appeared to be felt 

 for the safety of the potato crop, and great satisfaction was expressed at 

 the action of the i )epartment in causing an investigation to be made. 

 The officers of the various agricultural societies in the districts we visited 



