278 



they are laid, and the hirvae may develop quite rapidly."' As the 

 gTain becomes ripe the larvte tunnel their way through the joints of 

 the stalk toward the ground, and by harvest time very many of them 

 have peneti-ated to the root. They then cut the straAV circularly on 

 the inside about an inch above the g-round, filling- the cavity just 

 below the cut with a plug of borings. Immediately thereafter a 

 cocoon of silk is spun, in which the insect passes the Avinter. The 

 chief injury caused by these insects was the lodging of the grain. It 

 was found by trial that " in most cases the grain shelled from a cer- 

 tain number of infested heads weighed more than the grain shelled 

 from the same number of noninfested heads taken from the same 

 bilndle in regular order after the infested ones had been removed.*' 

 This is explained on the theory that, since oviposition takes place 

 early, the more vigorous stalks, which are largest at that time, are 

 chosen. The insect was only observed to infest Avheat at Ithaca, X. Y., 

 but is probably not confined to that locality. If the stubble is burned 

 or plowed under in the autumn the insects will be destroyed. 



BULLETIN No. 32, DECEMBER. 188'.). 



A NEW APPAHATl'S FOR DKYING SUBSTANCES IN HYDROCiEN AND FOR 

 THE EXTRACTION OF THE FAT, G. C. CaI.DWEIX, PiI. D. (pp. 147-150). 



The apparatus is described and illustrated by figures. The reason 

 of the demand for it and its fitness for its purpose are thus stated : 

 "At the last meeting of the Association of Official Agricultural Chem- 

 ists it was voted that in the analysis of cattle foods the substance 

 should be dried, for the determination of moisture and ether extract, 

 in a current of dried hydrogen at the temperature of boiling water, 

 and that the glass containing the substance should not come in con- 

 tact with the water. =•= * * The form of drying bath and tube 

 shown seems to meet the requirements fully, while at the same time 

 it makes it also possible to carry the hydrogen directly through the 

 substance instead of over it, as is usually done, thus securing more 

 rapid drying; to weigh the substance before and after drying in a 

 perfectly tight tube: and to use one and the same portion of the 

 substance for the three determinations, moisture, ether extract, and 

 fiber, without inconvenience and without any danger of loss of sub-^ 

 stance in the single transfer from one vessel to another that is neces- 

 sary. It is also easy to heat the hydrogen to the temperature of 

 boiling water before conducting it through the su1)stance, a modifi- 

 cation that seemed desirable to some members of the association." 



The apparatus consists of a rectangular copper bath, with a cop- 

 per tube passing obliquely downward through it to hold glass drying- 

 tubes. The latter are oi)en at both ends and fitted with two sets of 

 stoppers, one set closing the tul>e tight for weighing and one with 

 tubulures for passage of the stream of hydrogen in drying. Projec- 

 tions on the inside of the tube near the lower end sustain a perforated 

 platinum cone, which is overlaid with a mat of asbestos and sustains 



