96 THE REPOET OF THE 'No. 36 



Our experience with this insect illustrates very well the value of clean culture 

 in insect control. The moths appeared in the currants suddenly and in great 

 numbers. They came from a row of old, neglected currants in a nearby orchard. 

 They had bred in those canes^, increasing in numbers, until finally there were no 

 sound canes left. Then they took the shortest route to the currants first mentioned, 

 about eight hundred yards away. 



It is true of many of our injurious insects that a rigid system of clean culture 

 is the cheapest and most effective method of control. Clean culture is a gospel 

 well worth preaching. It would save our farmers and orehardists many thovisands 

 of dollars every year if rigidly practised; and the expense would be small. I know 

 an apple orchard carefully sprayed and cared for, yet badly infested with apple 

 pests every year. Why? Because just over the fence is a neglected orchard of 

 perhaps fifty trees. These trees are worthless and absolutely uncared for. They 

 serve, however, to breed apple insects for the whole neighbourhood. Clean culture 

 even with us in Quebec is one of the most important factors in successful fruit- 

 growing. In Ontario it is even more important, for here you have serious pests, 

 the San Jose, and the bark-beetles, which we do not need, as yet, to consider. 



Another currant borer, Psenocerus snpernotatus, bred in considerable numbers 

 in our canes this season. The beetles breed in the tips of the canes, and seem to 

 do but little damage. 



The Raspberry Cane-borer, Oherea himaculata, was particularly numerous this 

 season in raspberries. The adults appeared about June 20th, and were 

 present in great numbers until the last of the month. Scores of specimens 

 were picked from the canes during mid-day. Probably the same species breeds 

 commonly here in wild raspberry and blackberry. Egg-cuts found here this season 

 on roses may have been from 0. h. hasalis, a species which Mr. Morris, of Port 

 Hope, has taken this season from rosebushes. 



The Currant Saw-fly and the Currant Aphis M^ere of course more or less common 

 but easily controlled. I notice that currant growers seldom bother much about the 

 late appearing larvaB of the former. Where these are killed the first brood of the 

 succeeding season is usually few in numbers. The Currant Aphis appears to 

 spread but slowly, at least with us. I have been watching it for three years now 

 on a small group of canes where it is allowed to breed. Although it curls up prac- 

 tically every leaf on those bushes every season, it has so far caused no trouble in 

 our plantation some thousand yards away. 



The Grape-Vine Root-borer, Fidia vitticida, appeared in our vineyard three 

 years ago in small numbers. The characteristic holes in the leaves were quite evi- 

 dent. Possibly our cold winters are too much for them for we have never seen the 

 species since. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



The Rust Fly, Psila rosce, has appeared in Montreal Island, and threatens to 

 render carrot raising a precarious business. It has long been a serious pest in the 

 Maritime Provinces and in Eastern Quebec, but until recently has been rare with 

 us. It is difficult to control, and I know of nothing better than the practice recom- 

 mended by Dr. Fletcher, of spraying with kerosene emulsion every ten days from 

 the time the carrots are thinned until four or five sprays ]iave been given. The 

 spray should soak the ground about the roots. 



