868 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Insects injurious to garden and field crops, fruits, forest trees, man, and 

 domestic animals; their life history, injuries and methods of preventing 

 them. III. Hymenoptera and Diptera, G. Leonakdi (-SW. Prat. Agr., 11 {1900), 

 No. 3, pp. 549, Jig-s. 249). — This book constitutes Vol. 3 of a general treatise on inju- 

 rious insects, of which Vol. 1 was published in 1889, and covered the subject of general 

 entomology and Coleoptera; and Vol. 2 was published in 189-1, and included a discus- 

 sion of injurious Lepidoptera. These 2 voUimes were written by A. Lunardoni. 

 The present volume gives a discussion of the life history and habits of injurious 

 Hymenoptera and Diptera, together with suggestions of the approved remedies for 

 combating these insects. A very large number of species is included, the discussion 

 of which species is fairly complete. The family Pulicidaj is included under the Dip- 

 tera. Extensive bibliographical references are given in the volume. 



The plagues of field crops, P. Coxde {Bol. Soc. Nac. Agr. [Lima], 4- ser., 11 

 {1900), No. 3, pp. 170-172) .—Bnei general notes on the depredations committed by 

 injurious insects upon the common field crops. 



Losses caused by the grain aphis, E. V. Wilcox {Montana Sia. Bui. 22, pp. 

 So, 26). — Several heads of each of a large number of varieties of wheat were inclosed 

 with a netting so as to prevent the attacks of the grain aphis. One hundred grains 

 from such heads were then compared in size, weight, and appearance with 100 grains 

 of the same variety from heads which had been infected with the grain aphis. It 

 was found that before the grain had been allowed to dry, the weight of the i^rotected 

 and unprotected grain of any variety was approximately the same. During the 

 process of drying, however, the grains from infected heads shriveled up to a consid- 

 erable extent and the loss in weight as compared with grain from uninfected heads 

 was found to be from 15 to 35 per cent. 



The economic entomology of the sugar beet, S. A. Forbes and C. A. Hart 

 {Illinois Sta. Bui. GO, pp. 397-532, ph. 9, figt^. 97).—\\\ this bulletin the authors have 

 compiled brief accounts of the habits, life histories, and means of combating all 

 insects which are known to attack the sugar beet in the United States. The number 

 of species discussed is about 150. A bibliography of the su])ject is added to the 

 bulletin. 



The locust plague and its suppression, A. Muxro {London: John Murray, 

 1900, pp. 365, figs. 45). — The author gives a detailed discussion of the locust plague 

 in Argentina and in South Africa. The subjects considered in the volume include 

 an account of the appearance, habits, and life history of the locust, correspond- 

 ents' and newspaper accounts relating to the subject, and an elaborate discussion 

 of the natural enemies and artificial means for combating these insects. The nat- 

 ural agencies recognized by the author are winds, birds, reptiles, mammals, insect 

 para>jites, and fungus diseases. Among the mechanical means for fighting locusts 

 mention may be made of trampling by means of herds of sheep and cattle, rolling 

 with heavy rollers propelled by steam or in front of horses; the use of wire flails; 

 and various forms of hopperdozers and Carcaranya machines. A considera])le dis- 

 cussion is also given to various forms of traps, ditches and trenches with and with- 

 out water, pits, barriers of various sorts, burning, and scalding l)y means of steam. 

 Among the chemical substances used in the destruction of locusts the following are 

 discussed: Ar.senical solutions, arsenic and treacle, Paris green, London purple, coal 

 tar, creosote, paraffin, carbolic acid, and petroleum. 



Locust destruction {Agr. Jour. Cape of Good Hope, 17 {1900), No. 11, pp. 

 684-6&'6). — The (lovernment of the Cape of Good Hope has undertaken to bear 

 two-thirds of the expense of spraying materials and to furnish spray pumps where 

 possible, for the purpose of destroying swarms of immature locusts. The sprays 

 which were recommended are Blue ^Mottled Soap, Little's fluid dip, Odam's fluid 

 dip, glycerin dip, and Sunlight Snap. AV. K. Ellis reports the results from using 

 some of tliese dips. Odam's dip used in the proportion of 1 gal. to 5 gal. of cold 



