ABSTRACTS OF PUBLICATIONS OF TRE UNITED STAIES DEPARTMENT OF 



AGRICULTURE. 



DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



Insect Life, Vol. Ill, No. C, March, 1891 (pp. 251-304, illus- 

 trated). — Tliis contains the proceedings of the section on entomology of 

 the Association of American Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Sta- 

 tions at Champaign, Illinois, in November, 1890. A list of the papers 

 i)resented to the section is given in Experiment Station Record, Vol. 

 II, p. 208. C. M. Weed, D. Sc, publishes in this number a fifth contri- 

 bution to the knowledge of certain little-known ApMdidce, including the 

 sycamore lachnus {Laclmns platamcola, Eiley), box-elder chaitophorus 

 {(Jhaitoi)lwrus negundinis^ Thomas), cabbage aphis {Aphis hrasskcc, L.), 

 willow grove melauoxanthus {Melanoxanthus salicti, Uarr.), bicolored 

 melanoxanthus [Melanoxanthus bieolor, Oestlund), and flocculent melan- 

 oxanthus {Melanoxanthus flocculosus, n. sp.). For accounts of previous 

 contributions in this series see Exi)eriment Station Record, Vol. I, p. 

 291, and Vol. II, p. 253. 



DIVISION OF STATISTICS. 



Report No. 83 (new series), April, 1891 (pp. 105-158).— This 

 includes articles on the condition of winter grain, and of farm animals; 

 the permanency of agricultural production ; rural co-operative banks in 

 Russia ; European crop report for April, 1891 ; and transportation rates. 



The consolidated retnrus of our county correspondents relative to the present con- 

 dition of winter wheat over the whole breadth make the general average 90. 9, an 

 April iigure which has been exceeded but once in 10 years and but three times during 

 the history of crop reporting by this Deparfment. The averages by States are 

 remarkable for their uniformity, showing that the favorable conditions for seeding, 

 germination, and winter growth have been present throughout the whole area. " 

 * * The general average for rye is 95.4. 



Losses of farm animaJs. — Tlie present returns show about an average condition of 

 farm animals as regards healthfnlncss, though it is below the standard in some dis- 

 tricts of partial crop failure. The losses from disease and exposure are estimated, 

 the percentage from each class being reported as, horses 1.7, cattle :5, sheep 4, 

 and swino 8.4. Horses being the most valuable of farm stock, receive most care 

 and .attention, and the annual losses are small and vary but little. Mortality among 

 cattle depends largely upon the severity of the season, the heavy losses occurring 

 in the rancli and range regions, where provision for feed and shelter is always 

 inadequate. Last year the loss was heavy, the mildness of the weather in the East 



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