574 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



the middle of June to the first of Jtily and hateli during May and June of the follow- 

 ing year, remaining dormant, therefore, nearly a whole year. The stem mothers 

 upon hatching attack the young flower buds, and cause a rapid and peculiar develop- 

 ment of these structures, so that the insects are soon inclosed within a hollow gall 

 which later is covered with conspicuous spines. In these galls the second or migra- 

 ting generation is developed. The migrants ajipear in July or about a month after 

 the hatching of the first generation, and continue to issue until late in the fall. They 

 migrate from witch-hazel to birch. The third generation of this species assumes a 

 form which closely resembles species of Ctenochiton. About the middle of April, 

 or at the time when the leaf buds of the birch begin to open, the females of this gen- 

 eration which have hibernated on the birch deposit their larvae on the underside of 

 the leaves in the folds between the transverse veins. The irritation caused by the 

 presence of the insects induces the leaves to curl down, and finally the leaf becc^mes 

 much changed in appearance by the formation of corrugations. The attack of this 

 generation is sometimes a serious drain upon the health of birches. The winged 

 form, or the return migrant, belongs to the fifth generation and migrates back to the 

 witch-hazel during June. 



San Jose scale, A. H. Benson {Queensland Agi\ Jour., 8 {1901), No. 6, pp. 451- 

 454, pi- !)■ — The author gives a general account of this insect, with notes on its dis- 

 tribution, habits, and extent of injury in Australia. It is believed that the scale 

 was introduced into Australia from California. A list of food plants upon which the 

 insect has been found is given. The author considers the best winter spray to be lime, 

 sulphur, and salt wash. Other artificial remedies which have been found effective 

 are whale-oil soap, tobacco extract, sulphid of soda, and whale-oil wash and kero- 

 sene sprays. The author prefers the other insecticides to kerosene. In making the 

 sulphid of soda and whale-oil wash, 6 lbs. of sulphur and 3 lbs. of concentrated lye 

 are boiled in 2 gals, of water. At the same time 30 lbs. of whale-oil soap is to be 

 dissolved in 48 gals, of water, and the sulphid of soda is to be added to this mixture. 

 The whole is then boiled and water added to make 120 gals, in all. 



A new means of combating the olive fly, A. Brian {Prog. Agr. et Vit. {Ed, 

 L'Est), 2-2 {1901), No. 28, pp. 55-57).— According to the experiments of Prof. C. 

 Parona, it is believed that the ordinary methods of comlmting Dacus olex in olive 

 orchards are too expensive. Since it is well known that the insect prevails to an 

 enormous extent in storehouses where olives are collected for extraction of the oil, 

 it is suggested that special attention be given to destroying the insect in such situa- 

 tions. Experiments conducted for this purpose showed that the insects may be 

 readily destroyed. It is recommended that the walls of storehouses be made of 

 smooth lumber and that the larvae and chrysalides be collected by hand and 

 destroyed. 



The almond bagworm {Bui. Bot. Dept. Jamaica, n. ser., 8 {1901), No. 9, p. 141)- — 

 The insect is considered to be Oiketicus abbottii, and is reported for the first time as 

 injurious to orange trees. 



Currant aphides {Bd. Agr. [London'], Leaflet No. 68, pp. 5). — Considerable in- 

 jury to currants is reported from the attacks of Bhopalosiphum ribls and Myzus ribis. 

 In some localities the currrant bushes were entirely ruined by these insects, the 

 leaves turning brown and the fruit falling off. Notes are given on the habits and 

 life history of the two species. It is recommended that black currants be severely 

 pruned in the fall following an attack of the insects, and that the pruned branches 

 be burned. Spraying with kerosene emulsion and quassia is recommended. It is 

 desirable that the first application be made early in the year. 



Some insects injurious to shade trees, B. F. MacCartney {Pennsylvania Dept. 

 Agr. Rpt. 1900, pA. 1, pp. 91-97, figs. 4). — Brief notes on imported elm-leaf beetle, 

 white marked tussock moth, wood leopard moth, and bagworm. 



