202 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



I wish to add that I have had positive proof that the use of arsenical 

 sprays at time of orchard bloom has caused on several occasions a very 

 serious loss of bees, and on one or two occasions when the bloom was 

 very prolific of nectar even the brood in the hive was destroyed to an 

 alarming extent. Any assertion that there is no danger is founded 

 on insufficient observation. — A. J. C. 



Pointers. — In the February issue of The Monthly Bulletin vigor 

 of plants, fall plowing and systematic spraying were all suggested 

 as excellent provisions to protect trees, vegetables and fruits against 

 insect or fungous pests. Others are now added. 



DESTRUCTION OF RUBBISH. 



How often fields are untidy in autumn, winter and spring, mayhap 

 the whole year around, because of weeds, stubble and refuse from 

 various crops which are not destroyed. In California these are often 

 seen disfiguring the margins of irrigating ditclies. In all of the separate 

 states they are too common along the highways, about public buildings 

 and on vacant lots in cities and towns, though some of the states 

 are much cleaner in this respect than are others. Many noxious insects 

 seek such rubbish heaps to hide from enemies in winter. Many adults 

 hibernate during the cold r.niny winter months in these refuse heaps, 

 etc., of the fields and roadsides. The various leaf hoppers, Jassidffi, 

 familiar to us in the grape vine hopper. Typlocyha comes, and their 

 allies are illustrations of these hibernating species. Others seek out 

 these places of seclusion and safety while yet in the larval and pupal 

 stages in which they pass the winter. Many caterpillars, larvae of 

 moths and liutterflies, like the codling moth larvae and the tent cater- 

 pillars, especially many of the silk spinning species, are characterized 

 by this habit. Many butterfly chrysalids like those of cabbage butter- 

 flies also avail themselves of these hiding places. In all such cases 

 clean fields, fence rows, irrigating ditches, roadsides and vacant lots 

 will aid in no small degree in controlling many of the destructive 

 pests. The wisdom of this practice is found emphasized by the decided 

 gain in the neat appearance of both city and country, which is certainly 

 a valuable asset, as most of us delight in beauty and are willing even to 

 pay for it. This practice will also help greatly in solving the vexing 

 weed problem. 



LIGHT AND AIR. 



No one doubts the value of light and air as very iinportant factors 

 in preserving human health. The great white plague is often power- 

 less to enfeeble and destroy in their presence. Are they not also 

 conducive to the well-being of the various fruit trees? I venture to 

 say that very few of the best deciduous fruit growers are neglectful 

 of pruning. They, generally, believe that light and air are important 

 ancl gauge their practice accordingly. In institute work in southern 

 California in the early '90s it was rare to find any orchardist who 

 seemed to believe that citrus trees, either lemon or orange, needed 

 aid from the pruning knife or shears. Even the orange trees, densely 

 opaque with the dark, ample foliage, were left to themselves. In the 

 late '90s there was a change in the lemon orchard. Many growers 



