8(36 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



ENTOMOLOGY. 



Report of the entomologist and botanist, J. Fletcher ( Canada 

 Expt. Farms Bpt. 1897, pp. 187-230, figs. 18). — Notes are given on the 

 jointworm (Isosoma sp.), the grain plant louse (Siphonophora avence), 

 and grasshoppers which affect cereals. The pea weevil (Bmchiis j>i*i) 

 and pea moth (Semasia nigricana) are described at some length and 

 suggestions given for their destruction. Insects which attack root 

 crops and vegetables are described. Among them are mentioned cut- 

 worms, blister beetles, carrot rust fly (Psila rosce), and spinach carrion 

 beetle (Silpha bituberosa). Insects affecting fruits are described, the 

 more important of them being the tent caterpillar, cankerworms, shot 

 borer (Xyleborus dispar), oyster-shell bark louse (Mytilaspis pomorum), 

 apple maggot (Trypeta pomonella), apple fruit miner (Argyresthia con- 

 jugella), various species of plant lice, strawberry crown borer (Tylo- 

 derma foveolatum), currant maggot (Epochra canadensis), native currant 

 ■sa wfly ( Oymnonychus appendiculatus), and the San Jose scale. The life 

 history and notes on the attacks and methods of prevention are given 

 for these different insects. 



A report on the management of the apiary by J. Fixter is appended 

 in which a chronological history of the bees during the season of 1S97 

 is given. Experiments in wintering are also reported, in which 15 

 colonies were put into winter quarters in the cellar and placed on 

 shelves beginning 18 in. from the floor. Under the back end of each 

 hive was placed a 3-inch block by which each hive was raised so as to 

 secure ventilation. These hives were put in the cellar with the tops 

 and bottoms of the hives left on. Two colonies were stored in a root 

 house, 2 were placed in a pit dug in the side of a hill, and 2 were win- 

 tered in a wood shed. The mode of wintering which gave the best 

 satisfaction was the first. The other methods were more or less 

 unsatisfactory, owing to a number of causes. 



The report concludes with a brief account of the distribution and 

 value of awnless brome grass in Canada. 



Experiments -with bees, S. A. Bedford (Canada, JExpt. Farms 

 Bpt. 1897, pp. 331, 335).— An experiment is reported in wintering bees 

 in which the hives were placed G in. from the floor and protected 

 with a piece of old woolen carpet placed under the wooden cover. 

 When placed in the cellar each colony had 30 lbs. of honey, which 

 proved more than sufficient for the winter, and all the hives wintered 

 successfully. The temperature of the cellar, as shown by a self-regis- 

 tering thermometer, remained steadily between 40 and 50° F. 



In 189(> some difficulty was experienced with persistent swarming of 

 the bees, resulting in the weakening of the colonies, and in the follow- 

 ing year most of the brood frames were filled with bees and a large 

 upper story filled with wire foundations was added and the frames 

 extracted as required. This gave an abundance of room and no swarm- 

 ing whatever occurred and all the colonies became strong before fall. 

 An average of 45 lbs. of extracted honey was taken from each hive. 



