204 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



strikes the insect, but it seems almost impossible to get at the Plant-lice when they are 

 on the underside of the leaves." — [W. S. Blair.] 



Several specimens were also sent from different localities in Ontario. Mr. A. W. 

 Donaldson found them very troublesome at Shakespeare, Oxford Co., Ont. 



" Leamington, Essex Co., Ont., Nov. 24. — The most troublesome insects we had to 

 contend with this season were Aphids on the plum and cherry trees. They were especially 

 bad on the plum. I have never before seen them so numerous. They came in such 

 numbers that we could do nothing with them. I sprayed, but after the leaves had 

 curled it was hard to get at the insects. I had to make the emulsion as strong as we 

 dared to use it ; otherwise it would not kill them." — [W. W. Hilborn.] 



Remedies. — Many of my correspondents, while acknowledging the efficacy of kerosene 

 emulsion as a remedy fatal to all Plant-lice, at the same time dislike using it on account 

 of its odour and destructive effect on India-rubber hoses. Recent experiments have 

 shown that good work can be done with some of the other washes usually recommended. 

 Mr. R. M. Palmer, who has had a great deal of experience in treating the Apple Plant- 

 louse and other species in British Columbia speaks very strongly in favour of the 

 following tobacco and soap wash : " Soak 4 pounds waste tobacco in 9 gallons hot water 

 for 4 or 5 hours (or in the same quantity of cold water for 4 or 5 days) ; dissolve 1 pound 

 whale-oil soap in one gallon hot water; strain the tobacco decoction in the dissolved 

 soap, and apply the mixture to affected trees with a spray pump, using a fine nozzle and 

 all the force possible." 



Prof. Gillette, when speaking of the attack on plums in Colorado by Plant-lice, 

 says : — " In our experiments whale-oil soap, in the proportion of 1 pound to 8 gallons of 

 water has been more effectual than the ordinary kerosene emulsion in destroying the 

 lice. The powdery excretion upon the surface of these lice intei^feres greatly with any 

 successful treatment unless the application be made with much force." 



The Bronze Apple-tree Weevil (Magdalis cenescens, Lee). — Complaints have been 

 received from time to time of injury from this weevil, the larvae of which infest the 

 bark of apple trees in British Columbia. Last summer a new attack was observed by 

 Rev. G. W. Taylor on Gabriola Island, B.C., when the perfect beetles swarmed in 

 myriads on cherry trees and devoured the foliage. 



The Western Strawberry Crown-borer {Tyloderma foveolatum, Say). — 

 Specimens of this British Columbian beetle were received from Vancouver Island last 

 summer. References have been made occasionally to injuries to the strawberry plant in 

 British Columbia by a crown-borer. As I had never found nor received from that pro- 

 vince specimens of the ordinary Sra\<^berry Crown-borer I was very anxious to secure 

 specimens of this western pest, for identification. In June last I was pleased to 

 receive specimens of the mature beetle, from Messrs. E. A. Carew-Gibson and R. M. 

 Palmer of Victoria. These proved to be Tyloderma foveolatum, Say, which had not been 

 previously recorded as a pest of cultivated crops. Mr. Carew Gibson writes " I am 

 sending you some weevils from a strawberry patch which they have completely wiped 

 out this spring ;" and Mr. Palmer writes on the same subject— "Thank you for the name 

 of the strawberry weevil ; the specimens were sent to me from Cowichan, where they had 

 entirely ruined a small strawberry bed." 



The Cdrrant Maggot, Currant Fly {Epochra Canadensis, Lcew.). — Another 

 question which has been settled during the past summer, is the indentity of an insect 

 which does an enormous amount of injury to Black Currants in British Columbia, 

 the fruit being rendered quite unfit for use owing to the large numbers of maggots 

 which infest it. I have for years endeavoured in vain to get specimens of the fly or 

 infested fruit so as to breed the fly. I am now under obligation to Mr. Carew-Gibson, 

 for an opportunity to examine some flies bred by him from these maggots. 



" Victoria, May 21. — I am sending you some specimens of the flies hatched from 

 my currant fruit worms, i.e., the insect which lives in the larval stage inside the fruit of 

 the currant. Is this Epochra Canadensis ? The flies hatched out yesterdy (May 20), 

 and I now recognize them as a very common fly here at certain times." The flies 

 received were well marked examples of Epochra Canadensis, Loew., an insect which 



