180 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



every year is due to fruit growers not recognizing the fact that if the late summer 

 brood of this insect is allowed to destroy the leaves, because as some say, " It does 

 not matter now, as the fruit is all picked for this year;" nevertheless, they do suffer 

 much in the quantity and quality of the next year's crop, which is largely fed, as in 

 all early flowering plants, from material laid up through the leaves in the previous 

 season. The larvse of this saw-fly are extremely easy to destroy. The first brood ap- 

 pears in May and for this first 6rooc? on^z/ a weak mixture of Parisgreen(^oz. to a pailful 

 of water is sufficient) may be sprayed on ihe bushe8,or a dry mixture of 1 oz. of Paris 

 green to 6 lbs. of flour, well mixed together, may be dusted over the bushes after a 

 shower, or when damp with dew. For the second brood of caterpillars, which ap- 

 pears just before the fruit ripens, Paris green must on no.account be used, owing to 

 its poisonous nature; but instead of it, white hellebore, dusted on dry, or in water, 

 1 oz. to a pailful of water, will be found quite etfective. 



Black currants were much affected by Eed Spider in the districts where drought 

 prevailed. The same pest was also vei-y abundant on a plantation at Ottawa, where, 

 however, it was to a large extent kept in check by numbers of one of the small Lady- 

 bird beetles {Scymnus punctatus, Melsh.) (?) 



The Currant Span-worm (Evfitchia ribearia, Fitch) was 

 also pi-esent in small numbers at Ottawa, and specimens 

 were sent in from Mr. R. Bogue, of Moose Jaw, Aasa., who 

 writes: "July 5. — The inclosed caterpillars are doing much 

 misphief on my currants. They first 

 attacked wild bushes, later the culti- 

 vated ones. They have not touched 

 the red and white currant bushes. 

 They strip the leaves off, leaving 

 only the fruit." Mr. W. F. Morden 



also writes from Morden, Man., con- __ 



cerning the same insect, stating that Fig. 19.— Moth of Currant 

 he had tried spraying the bushes with Span-worm. 



white hellebore, but that it had not worked as satisfactorily 

 as he would have liked, and asking if there was a better 

 remed3^ This caterpillar is much more difficult to destroy 

 than the false caterpillars of the Imported Currant Saw-fly, 

 and it is necessary to use Paris green. As there is only one 

 brood in the season, it is easily controlled. If it is consi- 



^^^-^^ 



Fig. 18. — Currant Span 

 worms and Chrysalis. 



dered unadvisable to use Paris green, the conspicuous yellow and black larvse can 

 be easily picked off by hand. 



Strawberries have been little attacked, no report having been received of the 

 work of the Strawberry-weevil (Anthonomus signatus, Say), this year. White 

 Grubs (Lachnosternd) and tiue bugs have also only been reported as injurious 

 to this crop in single instances. 



Several kinds of the true bugs have been abundant in gardens, and have 

 attracted more than usual notice. Mr. J. A. Morton, of Wingham, Ont., sent a box 

 containing the Tarnished Plant-bug (^Lygus pratensis, L.), and the Four-lined Leaf-bug 

 (Pcecilocapsvs Imeatvs, Fab.), which had been very destructive in his garden. He 

 said : " They seem to be omnivorous, and attack currant and 

 gooseberry leaves, and sage, also fennel, the leaves of Gypripedium 

 spectabile, the common chickweed, this latter not so much as I 

 would like, flowers of Gladioli veiy badly, when they shrivel, 

 sweet corn kernels when young, if they can get at them." In reply- 

 ing, I suggested that the attack upon the last five plants named 

 was by the Tarnished Plant-bug, and upon the three first by the 

 Four-lined Leaf-bug. The formei- insect (Fig. 20) passes the winter 

 in the perfect state and attacks plants throughout the season. It 

 is a difficult insect to combat, when, as this year, it occurs in 

 Fiff 20— The Tar- ^^cessive numbers. It sucks the juice from the leaves and 

 nished Plant-bug. flowers of many plants, frequently injuring the young shoots 



