870 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5 GEORGE v., A.-1915 



plumosuSj Primulas, petunias, and other jjlants; tender cuttings such as Begonia and 

 Coleus were injured. Three species of these Isopods were found, namely, Oniscus 

 asellus, Armadillidum vulgare and ^-1. qiiadrifrons. Mr. Ross has discovered an 

 effective poisoned bait, and finds that one of the most important preventive measures 

 is cleanliness and the cleaning away of rubbish around the greenhouses. The Bulb 

 Mite (Rhizoghjphas hyacinilii) was found seriously damaging the bulbs of Easter 

 lilies in London, Ont. At Eglinton the Cattleya Fly (Isosoma orchidearum) was 

 lound injuring orchids. In greenhouses, and especially in gardens, the Tarnished 

 Plant-bug {Lyons fratensis) continues to be injurious in Ontario. It is notably 

 destructive to asters and chrysanthemums; one Ontario florist estimated the season's 

 loss on chrysanthemums at $2,000, and on asters at $500. The Chrysan- 

 themum Fly (Phytomyza chrysandliemi) was injurious in Toronto green- 

 houses. Mr. Gibson discovered an interesting case of the Variegated Cutworm 

 (Peridroma saucia) destroying carnations by eating out the interiors of the buds. 

 Garden asters in different localities, including Ottawa, have been attacked and 

 in many cases destroyed by root aphids (Aphis maidi-radicis), which are culti- 

 vated by ants. The occurrence of root-maggots has been mentioned in a previous 

 section. 



VII.— APICULTURE. 



Apicultural Work at Ottawa. 



On November 8, 1912, thirty-five colonics in the apiary were weighed and put 

 into the bee cellar under the farm foreman's house. Their weights varied from 37 

 pounds to 66 pounds, average 52^ pounds. Average temperature of the cellar, in 

 November 49° F.; in December, 45° F.; in January, 42i° F.; in February, 43^° F.; in 

 March, 47^° F.; in April, 48^° F. The bees were brought out of the cellar and weighed 

 on April 9. The loss in weight during the winter varied from 7 to 29 pounds 

 per colony, average 15^ pounds. Four colonies died in the cellar, one " shortly 

 before March 15, the others shortly before April 5. All were foodless, and starva- 

 tion was the immediate cause of death. Their weights Avere as follows: — 



Twelve colonies were wintered out of doors in special wintering cases. These 

 cases were each made to hold four hives, with a space of 2 inches to 3 inches of pack- 

 ing material around the sides and underneath, and 10 inches on top, with a 2 inch air 

 space above, ventilated by holes under the cover. The entrances were 9 inches long 

 and Ij inches deep, the lengths being reduced during winter by means of a strip of 

 wood revolving on a screw. One of these cases was packed with clover chaff, another 

 with cut straw and the third with shavings. As colonies wintered out-of-doors con- 

 sume more food than those wintered indoors, extra heavy colonies were selected to 

 place in these cases. All survived the winter which, however, was unusually mild. 

 Loss due to bees dying in the snow was not serious. The colonies in the case packed 



Ottawa. 



