172 - EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



Brunswick. Specimens were also received of two kinds of Blister beetles, with 

 notes of their attacks upon potatoes. Epicauta Pennsylvanica, DeG., was received 

 from Mr. E. Walker, of Tuscarora, Ont., which was eating the leaves of potatoes and 

 mangels in his neighbourhood and doing a great deal of damage on account of its 

 abundance. The same insect was received from Mr. F. Mitchell, of Innerkip, Ont., 

 with this statement: " I send you by mail specimens of a most destructive beetle, 

 which has this season come upon us in myriads; they are by no means local, as they 

 extend southward as far as Baltimore, Ont., at least; for in reports from there, I 

 find that florists there are suffering loss to the same extent as myself. They devour 

 the petals of almost every kind of flower. Can you inform me what they are ? " 

 The same beetle came also from Mr. A. Mackay, Indian Head, as a depredator on 

 beans. My reply to Mr. Mitchell was: — "The insects sent with your letter are the 

 Black Blister beetle, and I have had them sent in from several places. These 

 beetles seldom occur in large numbers for more than one season, and I think it is 

 unlikely that you will be troubled again next year. They are not. however, an 

 unmixed evil, tor in their grub state they live as parasites on the eggs of locusts and 

 grasshoppers. I know of no remedy which you could apply for the protection of 

 your asters. When they attack garden crops, as beets, mangels, potatoes, &c., 

 dusting the plants with Paris green and plaster, 1 pound to 50, has been found suc- 

 cessful. This, however, would not do for flowers, and the only thing which occurs 

 to me is to sweep them off" the plants by means of a hand-net mounted on a short 

 handle." 



Mr. Walker was advised to use Paris green in the same proportions, or for a 

 liquid application to mangels, 1 pound in 100 gallons of water, in which had been 

 previously dissolved a pound of soap. The latter must be added so as to make the 

 solution adhere to the leaves of such plants as mangels, turnips, cabbage, etc. 



The other Blister-beetle mentioned was the Gray Blister-beetle (Macrobasis 

 unicolor, Kirby), of which Mr. A. Laperriere writes from Bntremonts, Lake Temis- 

 €aming : — " I have just found a black beetle in great numbers in my field of potatoes, 

 which they are devouring voraciously, leaving only the stems. I have not heard of 

 it in other places, but here and on my son's place, it is causing much havoc, and 

 seems to work much more quickly than the old yellow striped Potato-beetle." The 

 habits of this beetle are very similar to the Black Blister-beetle, and like that 

 species, it feeds upon a variety of plants. It may frequently be found in the woods 

 feeding upon the Tall meadow rue (Thalictrum Cornuti, L.) and Legurainosce. 



FOr>DER CROPS. 



Fodder crops have been exceptionally good in Canada this year, and very few 

 "Complaints have been received of either fungus or insect injuries. The new fodder 

 plant, the English Horse bean, rcommended by Prof. Eobertson, the Dominion Dairy 

 ■Commissioner, has been largely grown for mixing with Indian corn and the heads 

 of sunflowers in the preparation of a complete ensilage ; and the few reports of injury 

 1 o fodder crops have been in connection with this plant. The small white Bean 

 Leaf-hopper (Empoafabce, Harris) has occurred in several places and done much 

 injury by puncturing the leaves and causing them to turn black and wither. As 

 the beans were grown this year mixed with the corn, it was difiicult to treat this 

 insect at the time it appeared, in the middle of August. The most satisfactory 

 1 emedy for the leaf-hoppers is to spray the infested plants early in the season before 

 the insects have developed wings, with Kerosene emulsion. Should this pest become 

 numerous, it will be necessary to watch for its appearance and spray the crop, 

 while the insects are in their larval condition when they have no wings. 



Blister-beetles have also infested beans to a serious degree in some localities, 

 as shown by the following; — 



" July 1. — I am mailtngyou under separate cover a number of beetles (these were 

 the Western Blister-beetle, Gantharis Nuttalli, Say) that have proved very destruc- 

 tive to our beans. The specimens were handed to me, by Mr. E. Norton at Brandon. 



