ENTOMOLOGY. 155 



complete bibliography of the subject, but rather to enable the practical ol)server of 

 plant diseases to ascertain the principal sources of information regarding the specific 

 causi' and means of prevention of various diseases, as reported in the publications of 

 the r. S. Department of Agriculture, and tlie various State experiment stations. 



A condensed handbook of the diseases of cultivated plants in Ohio, A. I). 

 Selhy {OJiiu iSt(t. Bid. 121, pp. 6.'>, jiij.s. 54) -—The author discusses in a popular man- 

 ner some of the causes of plant diseases and the methods by which they are si)read 

 after which jiopular descriptions are given of the more common diseases which have 

 been noticed as occurring in Ohio. The diseases are arranged alphabetically under 

 the host plants and where methods of treatment are known they are descril)ed. 

 Directions are given for the preparation and use of fungicides and insecticides, with 

 a spray calendar, showing briefly the method of treatment to be followed for differ- 

 ent insect and fungus pests. 



ENTOMOLOGY. 



The sixteenth report of the State entomologist on injurious and other 

 insects of the State of New York, E. P. Felt [Bui. Xew Yurk ,State J/«s., 7 {19U1), 

 No. 36, pp. 949-10G3, pis. 16, figs. 2). — Popular accounts are given of the gypsy moth 

 and the palmer worm, together with bibliographical references to literature concern- 

 ing the latter species. A number of experiments were made with insecticides for 

 the destruction of the San Jose scale. The result showed that a 20 or 25 per cent 

 mechanical mixture of kerosene did not kill all the scales. An api)lication of a 10 

 per cent mixture in summer was not injurious to the trees, but it was found that the 

 api)lication nmst Ije repeated every 10 days, beginning about the middle of June, in 

 order to obtain good results. The use of pure kerosene i^roved unsatisfactory and is 

 not recommended. A 20 per cent mechanical mixture of cinide petroleum did not 

 injure the trees and is reported as one of the most satisfactory remedies to be used 

 in the early spring. Some scales escaped even when a 25 per cent mixture was used, 

 and the latter strength is considered no more efficient than the 20 per cent mixture. 

 A few scales were found alive after spraying with undiluted crude petroleum. 



Trees were not injured by application of whale-oil soap at the rate of 2 lbs. to the 

 gall( >n of water. The results were not so good as those obtained by a 20 per cent mix- 

 ture of crude petroleum, 2 applications of the whale-oil soaj) being required to produce 

 the effects which were obtained by 1 application of the crude petroleum. Spraying in 

 summer with whale-oil soap at the rate of 1 lb. to 5 gal. of water was effective in kill- 

 ing young scales. A combination of whale-oil soap with crude petroleum gave good 

 results, but this mixture was no more effective than the crude petroleum alone. 



Hydrocyanic-acid gas proved to be very effective, practically all of the scales being 

 killed by the use of 1 oz. of cyanid of potassium to 150 cu. ft. of si)ace. The trees 

 were not injured in the least. The method is highly recommended for all except 

 verN' large trees, where the exjiense would be rather great. 



Brief notes are given on the fruit-tree bark beetle, plum curculio, flea beetles, elm- 

 leaf l)eetle, Chryxuclins aunilux, 12-spotted asparagus l)eetle, grain Ijeetles, snake 

 worm, forest tent caterpillar, fall army Avorm, elm-bark louse, harkniuin cahl)age 

 bug, grasshoppers, and Lophoderus (riferana. The forest tent caterpillar occurred in 

 such numbers that contaiit insecticides were tested, with good results. 



A summary is given of the reports of voluntary observers in different counties of 

 the State. The publications of the entomologist for the year are listed, and a state- 

 ment is given of the additions to the enttjmological collections. 



Illustrated descriptive catalogue of some of the more injurious and benefi- 

 cial insects of New York State, E. P. Fei.t (Bnl. Xeir York tShitr J/h.s., cS' [I'.kiO), 

 Nu. 37, pp. 62, figs. 83). — Brief descriptive and economic notes on tlie ccunmon 



2453— No. 2—01 5 



