33 



feebled trees operated disastrously also on the chrysalids of these slugs, and the result 

 has been that where there were hundre<ls of thousands last year, during this summer 

 scarcely any could be found — so few have been their numbers that no eftbrt has been ne- 

 cessary to subdue them. Fig. 12 represents the parent of this sometimes troublesome 

 Fig 12. pest, a small, black, four-winged fly, and fig. 13 the larva, or slug, in vari- 



ous stages of its growth. For the benefit of those who may not have the 

 I Report of last year to refer to, we would .say that to shower the infested 

 leaves from the rose of a watering-pot with powdered hellebore and water, 

 in the propurtioii of one pound to a barrel of water, is so effectual that it 

 '''ig- l'* leaves nothing further to be desired. 



The Gooseberry Worm {Nematusventricosus). 



This insect also was mentioned in our last 



Report as havingbeen extremely abundantand very 



destructive ; this summer, on the contrary, it has 



been unusually scarce. In past seasons constant 



watchfulness was required to prevent the currant and gooseberry bushes from being eaten 



bare. In 1875 little or no effort has been needed to keep it within bounds. This insect 



Fi?. 14. 



also passes the winter in the ground in the 

 chrysalis state, and has probably surtered from 

 the same causes which proved so fatal to the pear 

 tree slug. To avoid misapprehension, we in- 

 troduce again the figure of the larva (see fig. 14). 



Very different is our experitnce with the other currant worm, known as the measuring 

 worm, (Abi-axis ribcaria), shown at fig. 15. This creature passes tiie winter in the egg 

 state, and hence did not seem to suffer at all, the eggs of insebts being capable usually of 

 enduring the most severe cold without injuring their vitality. Thislarvahas been very abun- 

 dant and destructive, probably more so in Western Ontario than ever before ; they are 

 not so easily destroj ed by lu-llebore as the other species is. If used in the liquid state it 

 should be made about <loulde strength ; probably the better plan in this case is to first 

 sprinkle tiie bushes with water, and tlicn dust the powdered hellebore lightly eai, the 

 operator taking proper care to avoid the inhalation of the dust. 



The Potato Beetle {Doryphora decemlineata). 



This insect (see fig. 16) continues its progress eastward and southward. During 



