SUMMER MEETING AT OREGON. 127 



lested. I saw none at all last year. How would a good salt dressing 

 do for the beds, after taking out the plants, to kill the larvae that may- 

 be in the ground .'' Have you any idea how long it takes them to form 

 the beetle ? " 



This letter was accompanied by specimens of a curculioned beetle, 

 somewhat shorter and thicker than the plum curculio, of a silver 

 gray color, without humps, but showing under the lense a faintly 

 ridged and striated surface. In its perfect state, this insect punctures 

 the crown of the plant, and of the principal veins for food, often seriously 

 injuring the latter, if not causing its death. It also drills a cavity in the 

 side just at the surface of the ground, in which it deposits its egg. On 

 some plants I found two or three of these punctures. The larvae work 

 into the heart of the plant and bore downward into the root, causing its 

 speedy death. Many of the plants set out by Mr. Schnell contained 

 these larvae and consequently did not survive, occasioning much loss in 

 time and labor. 



Specimens of the beetle were submitted to Dr. C. V. Riley, of 

 Washington, and by him kindly determined as above. SufKicient time 

 has not yet elapsed for me to ascertain the period of its transformations 

 nor to develop other important points in its history. This I hope to do 

 in the course of the present season. As I have needed all the specimens 

 received as subjects for study, I could not very well test insecticides 

 upon them, but I think that the arsenical solution for which Dr. Goslin 

 has given us the formula, might prove a good remedy, and could be used 

 on the young plants without the slightest danger to the consumer of the 

 vegetable later in the year. 



As regards the hot beds, I suggested to my correspondent to drench 

 them with boiling water, as the salt dressing might prevent the growth 

 of other plants for which they would be needed. I am under many ob- 

 ligations to Mr. Schnell for specimens and for the trouble he has taken 

 in making observations which will be of use to me in preparing a history 

 of this devastator. 



THE WHEAT-HEAD ARMY WoRM. 

 [Leucania Albilinacv Gnen.) 



Several species of cut worms have been unusually numerous this 

 spring in vegetable gardens around St. Louis, and at this writing the 

 species above named is doing great damage, not only to small grain, 

 but to corn and sorghum. 



A neighbor who has just cut his rye green for feed, told me that 

 the bottom of the wagon box after the v\c was unloaded w ould be lit- 



