176 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Do€. 



proportions is also said to be effective. For carpet moths, which 

 have been injurious, the carpet should be removed and well beaten in 

 the open air, then sprayed with water containing corrosive subli- 

 mate, dissolved in alcohol or warm water, around the edges and 

 where furniture will rest permanently upon it. Clothes moths have 

 been destructive, and should' be prevented by putting clothes into 

 tight boxes, sealed with strips of paper, before these pests lay their 

 eggs. Tightly-closed paper sacks will also keep them out. When 

 infested, the clothing may be fumigated or well aired and shaken 

 in the sunshine and open air, and brushed. 



There have been a few reports of fleas, such pests, have been 

 trapped by sticky fly paper beneath beds and tables and eradicated 

 by thorough cleaning up of the sleeping places of cats and dogs, 

 and by using insect power liberally in the infested rooms. Bed 

 bugs are likely to occur from various causes, and may be killed by 

 applications of benzine or gasoline, and kept out by a liberal use 

 of corrosive sublimate dissolved in alcohol, and put into the cracks 

 of beds or other places that they are most likely to inhabit. 



On plants in the house, insects may he found and should be re- 

 moved by hand picking, or killed by fumigation or by spraying with 

 strong soap suds, tobacco decoction or other remedies in accord- 

 ance with the species of the pest. 



(n.) On Out-door Ornamental Plants. — The Kose slug has been 

 very injurious, and can be destroyed by dusting with air-slaked lime, 

 as for the Pear slug. The Rose scale is often sent to us, and the 

 remedies for this are the same as for the Scurfy and Oyster Shell 

 scales. Osage orange, Japan quince and certain other plants are 

 infested with the San Josd Scale, and much injury by this pest has 

 been reported to us on shrubbery and hedges, especially along the 

 railroads. 



(o.) Miscellaneous Insects. — Much complaint has been made of in- 

 sects which are general in their attacks, such as June bugs, both 

 adult and larval, and also, the Wire worms. It is difficult to apply 

 effective remedies for the former, but the latter may be met by 

 thorough drainage, ^ood and frequent cultivation and the rotation 

 of crops. 



(4) BIRDS: 



The bird concerning which the chief complaints have reached 

 us is the English sparrow. We have advocated poisoning with 

 sugar-coated grain and shooting. One peculiar observation which 

 is worthy of record is the American crossbill ( L'^xhi ein'vi- 

 rost7'a mwof') cutting apples to pieces in the fall in order to obtain 

 and eat the seeds. Our chief records of birds have been commenda- 

 torv, rather than condemning:. While there has been some com- 



