secretary's budget. 439 



Of late it has been found to be a merciful provision to rid our do- 

 mestic animals of flies which are often so very annoying. This use not 

 only affords great relief to the horses, but often nearly as much to the 

 person who has to drive them. To use this insecticide for such pur- 

 pose, put a small teaspoonful into a pint bottle of warm water, keep it 

 tightly corked, and every two or three hours, as the case requires, 

 sponge the horses off thoroughly on the legs, under the lower jaw, 

 about the loins and about the sides. 



The great difficulty m the use of pyrethrum comes from the fact of 

 its frequent adulteration, and worthless character, possibly from being 

 long kept in open boxes, or simply wrapped in paper. This objection, 

 however, is not without easy remedy. 



la the first place, if we purchase buhach, especially if we procure 

 direct from G. N. Milco, Stockton, California, we shall be quite likely 

 to secure a pure and fresh article, as he grows it extensively, and can 

 hardly afford to send out an inferior article, even though he was 

 minded to do so. Il is easy to give our druggists his address, and to 

 tell them of the nature of this article, so that they will keep it in air- 

 tight vessels. — A. J. Cook, in Michigan Horticulturist. 



insects and remedies. 



Most of the second evening se.-sion at American Pomological Society 

 was profitably given up to an illustrated lecture on "Economic Ento- 

 mology," by Prof. A. J. Cook. He said, in part, "Destructive insects are 

 increasing every year, and the problem of warring against them is be- 

 coming very important. Many of them are more formidable by reason 

 of the few bird foes met in this country. Some insects are changeable 

 in tastes and habits, leaving one kind of plant to attack another, or 

 eating up one vegetable and then feeding upon another. Eternal vig- 

 ilance alone can save the harvest. Until recently California was abso- 

 lutely free from insect depredations ; but now it is infested as badly as 

 the other States. All insects have their enemies and a knowledge of 

 these is absolutely necessary to the successful farmer or fruit grower. 

 Their habits and life should be more carefully studied, and the best 

 means of extermination ascertained. The census shows that the known 

 damage done by insects in a single year in this county (Kent county, 

 Mich.), was over $2,000,000, and the unknown damage would, doubtless, 

 amount to as much more. Large areas of certain crops favor insect at- 

 tacks. Wild cherry trees near an apple orchard are a partial protec- 

 tion from tent caterpillars, the former being more desirable food. 

 France pays liberally for the difTusion of knowledge concerning these 

 insect pests, and the remedies, but our Government is doing next to 



