854 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 37 



Flies and typhoid, W. Nicoll {Jour. Hyg. [Cambridge'^, 15 {1911), No. J^, pp. 

 505-526). — "The chain of evidence incriminating the house liy as a dis- 

 seminator of typhoid fever is at present fairly complete, but many of the links 

 are weak and not thoroughly strengthened by experimentation. The bulk of 

 experimental work has hitherto been done under highly unnatural and artificial 

 circumstances and the results so obtained can not be accepted unreservedly as 

 giving a correct view of conditions in nature. 



" The experiments described in the present paper show that flies can ingest 

 typhoid bacilli from natural matter, i. e., human feces and urine, and carry 

 them for a certain period of time. There is no evidence to show that the 

 typhoid bacilli multiply in the house fly. On the contrary the evidence goes to 

 show that they are not adapte<l for prolonged life on or in the fly. It thus 

 follows that the house fly is a purely mechanical carrier of the typhoid bacillus 

 and is not a natural ' host ' in the strict sense of the term. 



" Many bacilli closely resembling Bacillus tuphnmis in cultural characteristics 

 appear to be natural or, at least, common inhabitants of the intestine of the 

 house fly. These are extremely likely to be mistaken for B. typJwsus unless 

 the most stringent tests are employed. As might be expected there is evidence 

 to show that a process of bacterial selection occurs In the fly's intestine. Some 

 bacteria appear to flourish, but others are rapidly eliminatetl. Among the latter 

 must be numberetl B. tijphnsu.^." 



Belation of the common root maggot (Pegomyia fusciceps) to certain 

 crops in Louisiana, E. S. Tucker {Jour. Eron. Ent.. 10 {1911), Xo. 4. pp. .^.97- 

 Ji06). — Tlio author reports upon injury in Louisiana to young tomato plants, 

 garden peas, seed potatoes, young corn, and onions, and infestation of cottonseed 

 usofl for fertilizer, by this root maggot. 



A buprestid household insect (Chrysophana placida), H. E. Bitrke {Jour. 

 Econ. Ent., 10 {1911), \o. 4, pp. 406, 401).— The author records the injury to 

 window casings and door frames of sugar pine. {Pitiut lavihertiana) by this 

 buprestid at Placorvillo, Cal. 



The life history of Diapus furtivus. C. F. C. Beeson {Iiuiian Eorcst Rcc. 

 6 {1911), No. 1, pp. 29, pla. 2). — This paper reports upon studios of the life 

 history and economic importanre of D. furtiru/^, a species of shot-hole borer 

 which attained notoriety in connection with the death of sal trees in Bengal. 

 This borer is able to kill off trees with diseased roots, but its attack is not 

 fatal to trees weakened by defoliation, creepers, unsuitable local conditions, 

 etc. It normally breeds in newly dead or felle<^l trees and is particularly 

 abundant in felling areas and depots, being active throughout the year. 



Its chief economic Importance lies in the damage to unbarked timber, which 

 takes the form of shot holes and lines and stained wood defects. It may be 

 controlled by early barking on felling areas and the removal of newly dead 

 trees in other i>arts of the forest. 



The weather and honey production, L. A. Kenoyer {Toica Sta. Bui. 169 

 {1911), pp. 15-26. fig. 1). — The author here reports studies, based on daily 

 records for 29 years, kept by a successful beekeeper, as to the weight of a 

 hive of bees and the accompanying weather conditions. These show that 

 changes in the weather exert a marked Influence on the production of honey. 

 The conclusions drawn are as follows : 



" June yields 56 per cent of the annual hive increase and .Tuly about half of 

 the remainder. A large .Tune Increase Is indicative of a good honey year. 

 There is an evident alternation between good and poor years. A good year 

 has a rainfall slightly above the average, the honey season being preceded by 

 an autumn, winter, and spring with more than the average precipitation. A 



