656 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.35 



Laboratory tests on the durability of American woods. — I, Flask tests on 

 conifers, C. J. Humphrey {Mycologia, S (1916), No. 2, pp. 80-92, pi. i).— This 

 work has been in progress for about three years. In most cases both heart and 

 sap wood were used. The blocks cut from logs brought to the laboratory green 

 were placed in flasks, and inoculated plentifully with bean-pod cultures of 

 Lentinus lepideus, and kept 4, 8, or 12 months. The results are tabulated and 

 some are discussed. 



The order of resistance in case of the highest three, as measured by the 

 smallness of loss in weight by the heartwood during 12 months, was California 

 juniper (3.3 per cent), white cedar (5.4 per cent, sapwood 7.7 per cent), and 

 white pine (8.8 per cent). The loss for both heart and sap wood of fir, spruce, 

 hemlock, and most of the pine during this period ranged within or around 60 

 to 70 per cent. 



Further tests on heartwood of some of the species are considered necessary 

 before safe comparisons can be made. 



ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY— ENTOMOLOGY. 



A history of British mammals, G. E. H. Baekett-Hamilton and M. A. C 

 HiNTON {London: Gumey d Jackson, 1916, vol. 2, pt. 18, pp. 553-600, pis. 3, 

 figs. 2). — A continuation of the Muridse of the Rodentia, previously noted 

 (E. S. R., 35, p. 252), in which the harvest mouse {Micromys minutus) and the 

 black or ship rat {Epimys rattus) are considered. 



Rats and rat riddance, E. H. Forbush {Agr. of Mass., 62 {1914), PP- 169- 

 251, pis. 12, figs. 19). — This account deals somewhat at length with the biology 

 of rats, their economic importance, and the various means by which they may 

 be held in check. 



Description of a new pine mouse from Florida, A. H. Howell {Proc. Biol. 

 Soe. Wash., 29 {1916), pp. 83, 84)- 



Fumigation of animals to destroy their external parasites, W. Moore 

 {Jour. Econ. Ent., 9 {1916), No. 1, pp. 71-80, figs. 2) —The author has met 

 with success in the fumigation of animals with nitrobenzene, the insects being 

 killed without injuring the host. 



Report of the entomologist of the Arizona Commission of Agriculture 

 and Horticulture for the year ended June 30, 1915, A. W. Mokrill {Aris. 

 Com. Agr. and Hart. Ann. Rpt., 7 {1915), pp. 9-50, pis. 6, figs. 18).— The first 

 part of this report (pp. 9-26) relates to the inspection of plant, fruit, and seed 

 importations ; the provision for the terminal inspection of plant products 

 shipped by parcel post ; inspections of orchards, nurseries, and fruit products of 

 the State ; alfalfa weevil protection ; and insect control and eradication. The 

 second part (pp. 27-46) consists of notes on the important insects of the year 

 under the headings of pests of deciduous fruits and vines, citrus and olive pests, 

 pests of field and forage crops, vegetable crop pests, cotton pests, and a range 

 plant pest {Trirhabda canadensis). Part 3 (pp. 47-50) describes two vege- 

 table pests to be guarded against, namely, dodder, a menace to the alfalfa seed- 

 growing industry, and citrus canker. 



Among the more important insects mentioned are the steel-blue grapevine 

 flea-beetle {Haltica carinata), which was an important pest in the Salt River 

 Valley during the spring ; the clover mite, which did some damage to almonds 

 in an orchard near Mesa, Ariz. ; the flat-headed apple-tree borer, which was 

 unusually destructive to peach, apricot, and plum trees in the Salt River Valley ; 

 the wheat or flower thrips {Frankliniella tritici), which was particularly in- 

 jurious to blackberries and found also in the blossoms of the olive in the spring 

 of 1915; two walnut borers {Prionus californicus [?] and Eusophera (sglcella) ; 



