170 , EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



and have much wider fringes. Prof. Weed states that there are at least eight 

 generations in a year in Mississippi, but that doubtless there are only two in the 

 Northern States, as recorded by Harris. 



Since the appearance in the press of notices of the infestation of the grain at 

 Chicago, specimens of various insects injurious to stored grain, have been sent in, 

 as well as those mentioned above, with inquiries as to the best way of treating them : 

 (1) The Lesser Grain beetle (^Silvanus Surinamensis, L.), a small, flat, brown, beetle 

 with very narrow body and short legs, -^j of an inch in length. This insect is easily 

 recognized by the saw-like edges and three prominent ridges of the thorax. This was 

 sent in large numbers from a store-house in Toronto, (2) The Least Grain beetle 

 (Silvanus advena, Walt.), found abundant in flour at Ottawa. (3) The Meal Snout 

 Moth (Asopiafarinalis, L.), from several places ; and (4) 'Ftiniis fur, L., a small brown 

 beetle, somewhat oval in shape with long slender antennre, which was received from 

 Orillia and Toronto as occurring abundantly in flour. This insect attacks numerous 

 specimens of plants and insects in collections, and it is there probably where its 

 ravages have attracted most notice, but the small yellowish curved larvse about ^ of 

 an inch in length, doubtless feed on many dry substances of animal or vegetable 

 origin. 



Remedies. — Should grain at any time be found to be infested by any of the 

 above pests, they may all be treated in the same manner. The surest remedy is to 

 subject the grain to the vapour of bisulphide of carbon. This chemical vaporizes 

 when exposed to the air, and the vapour is so much heavier than air that it will 

 run down through the mass of any grain upon the top of which it has been placed, 

 and will destroy all contained insects. The quantity required is small, 1 lb. being 

 enough for each ton of grain. The method of using it, is to inclose the grain in a 

 perfectly tight bin, then pour some of the bisulphide into a shallow vessel, and place 

 it on the top, keeping the bin tightly closed for forty-eight hours. The bisulphide 

 does not injure the grain, but it must be used with care, on account of its extreme 

 inflammability. The grain should then be emptied out, out of doors, and no flame, 

 lighted cigar or pipe, must be brought near it, or an explosion will occur. In large 

 quantities bisulphide of carbon costs only about 20 cents a pound. 



With regard to the treatment ofmillsProf. Weed writes as follows:— ", To destroy 

 insects infesting mills, quantities of bisulphide should be placed in open dishes or 

 plates in various elevated parts of the mill, commencing the application in the base- 

 ment and going upwards. The mill should then be closed as tightly as possible, and 

 a watchman employed to see that no lights are brought near until the odour of the 

 bisulphide has passed off". If a mill is thus treated on Saturday afternoon, work can 

 be resumed as usual on Monday morning. The bisulphide should not be applied to 

 unpainted floors or walls, as it will sink into the wood and it will take some time 

 before the fumes will have passed away." {Bull. 17, Mississippi Exp, Station, p. 14.) 



ROOT OROl^S, 



TUENIPS. 



With the exception of Locusts in Western Ontario, the insect enemies 

 of root crops do not appear to have been so noticeable last season as 

 usual. The only complaints of the attacks of the Turnip Flea-beetle 

 (Phyllotreta vittata, Fab.), were received from a few localities in New 

 Brunswick, Eastern Ontario and Quebec. The single report from .British 

 Fig. 9.— Columbia was : " There are no Floa-beetles this j^ear." 

 The Turnip This well know pest is shown very much enlarged at Fig. 9. 

 Flea-beetle, rpj^^ remedy recommended, and found successful in all instances but one, 

 was dusting land plaster or ashes and Paris green (50 lbs. to 1) over the young plants 

 early in the morning. In the instance of failure referred to, I found that the ashes 

 and Paris green had been mixed and carried to the field in the evening and left 



