256 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECOED. 



Isle of Wight have referred to a bee epidemic in that island as paralysis, 

 although the symptoms did not agree with those of this disease. The disease 

 in question appears to have been first noticed in 1904 and has spread rapidly 

 since that time, causing serious losses in many parts of the island. Bees 

 affected with the disease are unable to fly more than a few yards and soon die 

 after attempting to crawl up grass stems or other objects. 



The disease is confined almost entirely to adult bees and affects chiefly the 

 digestive system ; in fact it may be described as an excessive enlargement of 

 the posterior parts of the intestine, particularly the colon and rectum. These 

 parts become distended, chiefly with pollen grains. Certain bee raisers claim 

 that they are able to prevent the occurrence of this disease by artificial feeding 

 of swarms, but this method does not always give satisfactory results. The 

 author recommends the destruction of diseased swarms and the thorough 

 sterilization of the hives. 



The bee epidemic in the Isle of Wight (Brit. Bee Jour., 85 {1091), No. 1302, 

 i)p. 221-223, flgs. 3.) — The reports concerning the prevalence of a bee epidemic 

 in the Isle of Wight have been considerably exaggerated. It is now believed 

 that the disease is not paralysis as had been supposed, but is apparently identical 

 with a disease known in Germany as " May " disease. 



Annual report of the royal sericultural station, Padua {Ann. R. Staz. 

 Bacol. PacJova, 3Jf {1901), pp. 125). — In a preface to this report the director of 

 the station, E. Verson, calls attention to the negligence observed among a con- 

 siderable percentage of the population in carrying on sericulture in a satis- 

 factory manner. This matter was called to the attention of government officials 

 and a commission was appointed to investigate the status of sericultui'e. The 

 commission recommended the establishment of a peripatetic chair of agriculture 

 for the purpose of disseminating encouragement and information regarding silk 

 raising. 



The present status (H sericulture in the provinces of Bari, Foggia, and Lecce 

 is discussed by E. Quajat (pp. 29-39). The causes of flaccidity in silkworms 

 are discussed by E. Yerson (40-49). This is believed to be a distinct disease 

 which may arise from the cooperation of a number of predisposing causes. The 

 disease is observed much more frequently when the silkworms are neglected 

 than on the premises of careful and progressive silk raisers. The same author 

 made a study of the effect upon silkworms of washing the mulberry leaves in 

 disinfectants (pp. 50-57). For this purpose fluorid of silver was used in wash- 

 ing the leaves as compared with dry leaves and leaves merely moistened with 

 water. The weight of the cocoons was greatest in case of those which fed upon 

 leaves treated with fluorid of silver, but this increase of weight was apparent 

 rather than real, since the amount of silk seemed to be no greater. The larvae 

 fed upon disinfected leaves showed no dimunition of mortality. 



The leaves of Morus alba and M. nigra were compared as food for silkworms 

 by E. Quajat (pp. 58-80). The quality of cocoons obtained by feeding the worms 

 on Al. nigra was superior, as was also the tenacity of the silk. The elasticity of 

 the silk was the same in both cases. The same author also gives descriptive 

 notes of 4 races of Chinese silkworms imported into Italy. E. Verson tested the 

 value of tetrachlorid of carbon in killing the chrysalids. This chemical as com- 

 pared with the ordinary method of steaming was found to have no advantage 

 and injured the silk to some extent. Biological notes are also given on a num- 

 ber of races of the silkworms and on the manner of depositing the eggs. As in 

 previous numbers of this report an elaboi'ate bibliography relating to silkworms 

 has been collected (pp. 107-124). 



Some silkworm moth reflexes, V. L. Kellogg {Biol. Bui., 12 {1901), No. 3, 

 pp, 152-154). — The author reports a number of observations in which it ap- 



