676 experimp:nt station record. 



with toljacco does nut kill, a large proportion of the insects. Fumigation with 

 hv(!ro(!yanic-acid gas kills all of the white flies, but since the tomato is especially 

 susceptil)le to the effects of this gas, more or less serious injury may be experienced 

 from its use. Whale-oil soap in the proportion of 1 lb. to 5 gal. of water destroys 

 the nymphs, l)ut produces a disagreeable odor. Fir-tree oil at the rate of 2 lb. to 2 

 gal. of water gives excellent results, but is too expensive. A 15 per cent mechanical 

 mixture of kerosene gives good results in killing the insects, but lends an unpleasant 

 odor to the tomatoes. The best results were obtained from spraying tomato plants 

 with common soap and water in the proportion of 1 \h. of soap to 8 gal. of water. 



"Termes taprobanes" — white ants as a pest of trees {Dept. Land Records and 

 Agr., Caitral Provinces Bid. 6', 19U'2, pp. S). — Notes are presented on a number of 

 experiments conducted for the purpose of determining effective and convenient 

 remedies for destroying white ants. These experiments were duplicated in a number 

 of different localities under different conditions. Tobacco decoction, kerosene, salt 

 and soap, were among the remedies tried, but all of these gave unsatisfactory results. 

 Excellent results were obtained frf)m the use of Gondal fluid, containing 1 part gum 

 of (idrdenia gummifera, 2 parts asafetida, 1 part Bazar aloes, and 2 j^arts castor-oil 

 cake. This fluid is to be applied in a continuous band around the trunks of trees 

 which are to be protected against the attacks of the white ants. 



On mites attacking" beetles and moths, W. W. Smith ( Trans, and Proc. New 

 Zealand Inst., So {J 901), pp. 190-201). — lirief notes are given on Vropoda vegetans, 

 which was observed as a parasite on 9 species of beetles and 2 species of moths. The 

 beetles and moths which are ^parasitized by this mite have the habit of resting in 

 moist places, and it is believed that the mite thus gains opj)ortunity for attaching 

 itself to its hosts. 



The destruction of certain injurious insects, especially Hyponomeuta 

 padella, J. Labokdk {Compt. llend. Acad. Sci. Paris, 134 {1902), No. 20, pp. 1149- 

 1151). — Since hand picking of the caterpillars of Hyponomeuta and spraying with 

 ordinary insecticides have been found slow or ineffective methods for destroying this 

 insec-t, the author conducted a number of experiments for the purpose of developing 

 a more eflicient insecticide. The material used in these experiments contained 1,500 

 gm. pine resin, 200 gm. caustic soda, and 1 liter ammonia to 100 liters of water. It 

 was found that this insecticide readily penetrated the silk threads whicli protected 

 the larv;e and ])roved to be an eflicient agent for destroying the latter. It appears to 

 be valuable as an ijisecticide application up to the time of pupation of the insects. 



The migratory locusts and means of combating them in our African 

 colonies, L. Sander {Die Wanderheuschrecken und Hire Bekdnipfimg in unseren afri- 

 kanisclu'n Kolonieen. Berlin: Dietrich Reimer, 1902, jip. 544, fig^- 40, maps 6). — In 

 this volume tlie author presents an elaborate account of extensive investigations 

 made for the purpose of determining the distribution, iiabits, and means of combat- 

 ing the migratory locusts of the German colonies in Africa. A detailed historical 

 account'is presented on the various outVjreaks which have occurred in East Africa, 

 Southwest Africa, Cape Colony, Togo, and Kamerun. An account is given of the 

 anatomy and development of locusts, together with descriptions of the different 

 forms under whi(di they appear. The migratory species which are most important in 

 Southern Africa are Pachytylus cinerascens, P. nugratoroides, P. sidcicoUis, Schistocercu 

 peregrina, and ;S'. paranensis. An elaborate discussion is given of the following sul)- 

 jects: Migrations of locusts, causes and consequences of their migration, food plants 

 natural conditions for the rapid multiplication of locusts, peculiarities of the haljits 

 of locusts in South Africa, natural enemies of lo(;usts, the remedies whicli have been 

 adoi)tcd for comloating the locust, and various official regulations which have lieen 

 adopted for destroying them. In the chapter on natural enemies of locusts mention 

 is made of various birds, reptiles, insects, and other animals which prey upon or 

 l)arasitize them, and an account is also given of the fungus and bacterial diseases 



