so THE ENTOMOLOGIST. [May 



from Beaumont Park, Huddersfield, with the mention that the Willow 

 Beetle was very common in tliat neighbourhood, but on poplars ; and 

 accompanying lie forwarded specimens of the beetle and the injured 

 poplar leaf. 



Now, looking over the results of the above observations, firstly as 

 to what remedies have been tried and failed, the knowledge of which 

 will save time and expense in future attack, it is noted that soot, 

 sulphur, lime, and spent gas-lime, arsenic, and likewise hellebore, 

 failed to do good. 



Hellebore has not, as f;ir as I see, been tried as a means of destroy- 

 ing the grubs, but Mr. G. H. Leigh's careful experiments appear 

 conclusive as to its being useless for destroying the beetle. Paraffin 

 is noted as of use, and hand-picking obviously cleared enormous 

 quantities of the pests ; but, as a direct remedy in the way of 

 application to the willows, Paris-green appears to have acted best. 

 This poison has the merit of being an application which has now 

 been tried for many years, and found serviceable regularly on tlie vast 

 scale on wliich it has been used in the United States to keep down 

 Colorado Ijcetlc, which is, like our Willow Beetle, a Chrysomcla, and 

 much like it in habits ; and if during the time before the beetles 

 come out some of the willow growers were to have a tin can made 

 on the plan of jMr. Cameron's, and learn where Paris-green was 

 purchasable, as there is often great difliculty in procuring it on the 

 spur of the moment, it would probably save much money in the end. 



In the mixture given as ]\Ir. Shearer's recipe there is no difficulty 

 as to separation of oil and soap ; the can would give a proper method 

 of application, and the stickiness of the soft-soap would ensure the 

 leaves remaining (except in very wet weather) in a condition 

 thoroughly repulsive to the beetles, whether for food or egg-laying. 



The great point, however; is forestalling attack, and in the above 

 observations with wliicli I have been favoured it will be seen that 

 the enormous importance of doing this by clearing away loose bark- 

 rubbish, rubbish below Hood-line, etc., is again and again dwelt on. 



But there is yet another important point. This attack is one in 

 which non-attention on a single willow ground does mischief to all 

 near. The willow growers wisely formed themselves into a society 

 last season to attend to the extermination of this pest, and the result 

 has been, as shown above, that in a few months they have learnt its 

 history, and what measures are or are not of service in checking the 

 attack. If they should think fit to continue to thus co-operate at 

 least for another season, so that they might be fully cognisant of the 

 effects of all methods of treatment, and likewise of those of absence 

 of attention to the subject in their district, the occasional time given 

 to the meeting would certainly be repaid. 



