460 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



tt'i-ji ((bservod were yeoclytus rrythroccphalufi, Xnclonota piincHcoUis, und 

 Ma cro h a s i.s u n icol o r. 



A note on the lac insect, its life history, propagation, and collection, E. P. 

 Stkbbinc: (Indian Forest Nee, 1 (1908), So. 1, />/>. .S.J, pis. .1). — The inereiisiMl 

 use of shellac in electrical work and In the manufacture of phonograph records 

 has led to nn increase in the price of the substance. Some attention has, there- 

 foi-e, been given to the method of collecting the crude material and to the 

 artificial encouragement of tlie lac insect. Detailed notes are given on the 

 growth of the industry from a historical standi)oint, the life history of the 

 lac insect, its food plants, enemies, and the injuries which it causes to forest 

 trees. It is recommended that lac should be collected either before or after 

 the swarming of the larvip. A bibliography of the sul)ject is appended to the 

 article. 



The life history of house flies, A. Griffith (Pm6. Health [London'], 21 

 (1008), yo. 3, pp. 12.i-12'7). — The life history of house flies was followed 

 through practical Ij' the whole cycle in order to determine more accurately those 

 points which may be of value in formulating a campaign against these insects. 

 It was shown by experiment that flies required water frequently. The egg 

 hatches within about 24 hours after being laid and the larval stage lasts 4 days. 

 On an average four layings of eggs are done by each female fly. In combating 

 the house fly reliance must be placed chiefly on the frequent removal and de- 

 struction of manure and other rubbish in which flies may breed. 



The bot fly (Gastrophilus equi), W. W. Froggatt (Agr. Gaz. N. S. Wales, 

 19 {1908), yo. 3, pp. 229-233, pi. i).— The life history of this insect is described 

 by way of comparison with bot flies, which infest other animals and have 

 different habits. Various chemical remedies have been suggested for destroy- 

 ing bots in the stomach of horses or for expelling bots. As a rule, the results 

 obtained from this line of treatment are not promising. It is suggested that 

 some benefit may be deri^•ed from careful grooming of the horses during a 

 period when the eggs of tlie bot fly are deposited upon the hair. 



The role of arthropods in the dissemination of diseases, B. Galli-^'alerio 

 (Ccnthh Bald, [etc.}, 1. Aht., Ref., .',1 (IDOS), Xo. 11-13, pp. 353-360).— \ sum- 

 marized statement is given regarding the agency of arthropods in disseminating 

 various diseases. The arthropods which are concerned in carrying diseases 

 may be classified into 8 groups — those wliich are simply carrying agents, those 

 which produce direct inoculation, and tliose which serve as intermediate hosts 

 of the pathogenic parasite. 



Sericultural experiments, B. C. Basu Bahadur (Ann. lipf. Agr. hitas. East. 

 Bengal and Assam, 1907, pp. 78-86). — The experience of 4 years has shown that 

 the winter climate of Shillong is cool enough for proper hibernation of eggs 

 of Euroj>ean breeds of silkworms. It was found possible to secure a very even 

 IiJttching of silkworm eggs by enclosing them in a cloth which was worn under 

 the clothes of one of the workmen, the process of hatching by this method i"e- 

 (piiring .5 da.vs. Two species of muibei-ries were tested (Moms atropurpurea 

 and 21. indica). The cocoons from silkworms raised on the latter si)ecies were 

 heavier and contained more silk. Little or no trouble was experienced from 

 pebriue or grasserie. 



Silk culture and the silk industry in Turkey, N. N. Shavkov (Shclkovodstvo 

 i Sliclkovai/a Proinuishlennost r Tiirlzii. Tiflis, 1907. jit. I. pp. 302, pis. 11, figs. 

 J/o). — ^An elaborate account is presented of the status <>f silkworm growing 

 and silk mnnufacturing in various p:irts of Turkey and S.vria. Attention is 

 chiefl.v given to the statistics of jiroduction, the culture of mulberries, the breeds 

 of silkworms used in v.-irions luii'ts of Turkey, the manjigcnient of silkworms, 

 and the measures which have beeu tukeu for pruiuotiug this iuduBtry, 



