THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 437 



Poisoned Bait for Cutworms. — A mixture of bran, molasses, paris 

 green and water has long been used to destroy insects, especially 

 locusts and cutworms. E. H. Strickland in the July issue of the 

 Canadian Entomologist, recounts experiments which prove macli better 

 results when shorts replaced the bran. Mr. Strickland thinks the 

 shorts retain moisture better, thus making the mixture more attractive 

 to the cutworms and so more effective. The following formula gave 

 the best results: 



Shorts 50 lbs. 



Molasses ^ gal. 



Water 1 gal. 



Paris green 1 lb. 



This bait killed 80 per cent of the caterpillars. The addition of 

 oranges gave no benefit. The cutworms commence feeding in small 

 localized areas, and thus the bait need not be used all over the field, 

 which of course reduces expense. — A. J. C. 



California Certified Seed Potatoes. — Assembly Bill 1573, chap- 

 ter 493, of the laws of 1915, an act to establish a standard for Cali- 

 fornia certified seed potatoes, was unfortunately omitted from the list 

 of agricultural bills given on page 376 of the August number of The 

 iMonthly Bulletin. This act makes it possible for the potato grower, 

 who desires to sell his seed potatoes as California certified seed pota- 

 toes, to receive more remuneration, providing he lives up to the 

 requirements of the act. This law will undoubtedly increase the pro- 

 duction of clean seed potatoes, and will in the future bring about a cor- 

 responding increase in the average yield in California. — E. J. V. 



The Mealy Bug at Upland. — It is to be regretted that the mealy bug 

 which is infesting the citrus trees at Upland, California, has been 

 called the Ontario mealy bug. This name no doubt was given it 

 because of the mealy bug convention which was held at the Chaffey 

 High School at Ontario in January, 1914, to consider this pest. The 

 name Ontario mealy bug is an injustice to the growers of the Ontario 

 district, as inspection has shown that this species occurs only in certain 

 parts of the Upland section. This mealy bug was thought to be the 

 same species as Baker's mealy bug, which is widely distributed 

 throughout the State, but lately has been distinguished from this spe- 

 cies by Mr. E. 0. Essig, who has found that there are several character- 

 istics which are very different. — E. J. V. 



Grasshopper Bulletin. — The shorthorn grasshopper or locust is 

 often a grievous pest in many counties of our State. Ver^^ many of 

 our farmers are very much interested in control measures. Bulletin 

 138, Utah Agricultural College, Logan, Utah, by Dr. E. D. Ball, deals 

 verj^ ably with this pest. Our county horticultural commissioners 

 especially would profit greatly by reading this bulletin. 



Dr. Ball gives all the usual means of destruction, but advises destruc- 

 tion of eggs as the easiest and cheapest method to head off the hoppers. 

 When we remember that billion is the measuring rod to estimate these 

 hungry hordes and that the eggs are more in number than the hoppers, 

 we have a right to sit up and take notice at the word "grasshopper." 

 I have only words of highest praise for this instructive and timely 

 bulletin. — A. J. C. 



