oO 



remedy. Wherever it has been properly used, good results have invariably been obtained. 

 It is, of course, of the utmost importance that the quality should be good. As a marketable 

 commodity, the quality of Paris Green is exceedingly variable. It is an arsenite of copper, 

 and the best qualities contain about 60 per cent, of arsenic, on which its activity depends, 

 but the inferior grades contain a much smaller percentage, and are consequently much less 

 effective, and in some cases almost worthless for this purpose. We are j-j^, gg 



satisfied that every reported case of failure in the use of Paris Green 

 as a remedy for the Colorado potato beetle, may be traced directly to 

 the inferior quality of the poison used. We have been informed by 

 Mr. W. Saunders, of London, Ont., that he has found Plaster of Paris 

 a most excellent substitute for flour to mix the poison with. It 

 ehould, most certainly, be very useful as a fertilizer, and where avail- 

 able, would doubtless be found to obtain success. Its cheapness also 

 is a very important point in its favour. Its proportions for mixture 

 are somewhat more, owing to the difference between the weight of the plaster and that of 

 flour, for while the latter works well in the ratio of from 15 to 20 parts to 1 of Paris Green, 

 the Plaster will require at least 30 to 40. Flour, however, we consider for several reasons 

 to be still a capital material for this purpose. 



There is a mixture prepared at Strathroy, Ont., which it is claimed is a very good 

 remedy for the beetle. We tried some on a small scale, but not enough to justify us in 

 recommending it as a substitute for the Paris Green. We purpose testing it more extensively 

 this next season. 



In the State cf Illinois we are told that the following plan has been tried and found to 

 succeed, i.e., to plough a small furrow between the rows of potatoes, knock off with a stick all 

 the larvae into the furrows, and then by running the plough up the row again cover them 

 with earth. 



We can hardly imagine that in our climate this would answer at all, for as the larvce 

 when full grown seek the earth in which to undergo their transformation into the pupal and 

 perfect states, it would seem that this plan would only kill a few of the tenderest and 

 youngest of the brood, and would not interfere with the older and more mature ones. 



From the general returns, the early crops appear to escape the more easily, and in several 

 instances the late crops seem to have been saved by a plentiful supply of rain, even after the 

 bugs had attacked and finally left them. 



The chief thing, however, seems to be not to grow too large a crop, and to exercise a 

 vigilant watch over what is grown ; this, with hand picking and tbe use of Paris Green will, 

 we think, ensure success in mo.st instances. 



We have not heard of a single case of poisoning from the bite or handling of the beetle. 

 As to our opinion on this point, we refer our readers to our Report for 1871. 



We would beg here to record our thanks to our esteemed friend, Professor Geo. Buckland, 

 the able and well known Secretary of the Ontario Bureau of Agriculture, for bis courtesy in 

 furnishing us with statistics of the past year's crop : the Entomologists of Ontario indeed owe 

 a great deal to the Professor for his invariable kindness and attention to their wants, and the 

 prom])titude wiih which he always seeks to assist them in carrying out their attempts at 

 Practical Entomology. We feel sure that we express the feeling of all the members of the 

 Entomological Society of Ontario, in offering to our friend all the kindly wishes of this 

 Christmas .season, and trusting that he may long be spared to superintend the working of the 

 Bureau with which he has been so long and so honourably associated. 



