13 



have gained possession of the trees, and consists of spraying the trees with Paris green 

 or London-purple — a method that may be very properly described as a universal remedy 

 for all foliage eating insects. 



The irrepressible Cut-worm has made his unwelcome presence known in many parts 

 of the country. In Alberta territory they were very numerous and destructive in the 

 early part of the season. In reply to an appeal for instruction in the modes of dealing 

 with this pest made by the editor of the Macleod Gazette, I sent him copies of our last 

 report and Mr. Fletcher's bulletin containing directions upon the subject, and advised 

 him strongly to have the poisoned traps used by the farmers in the neighbourhood. The 

 remedies were duly published in the Gazette and I have no doubt were found very effec- 

 tive by those who tried them. The species of cut-worm in question is evidently Agrotis 

 ochrogaster, Guen, which has also been found in abundance at Lethbridge. Its habit is 

 to attack vegetation of every description, and thus it may be rated as one of our most 

 destructive species. It is evidently very widely diffused throughout the Dominion, as it 

 has been found in abundance at Cape Breton. In Manitoba another species, Agrotis 

 campestris, Grote, has been most prevalent and injurious. 



The insect producing the well-known injury called " silver-top " in grass {Meromyza 

 Americana) was very abundant this year in many districts of Ontario. In most instances 

 it was attended by its parsite (Coilinius meromyza, Forbes), which may be relied upon to 

 keep it in check eventually. In the meantime it will be wise for farmers to break up 

 their old meadows, wherever " silver-top " has appeared, and put in a crop with plenty of 

 manure. 



The turnip flea-beetle, {Phyllotreta vittata, Fab.) is almost ubiquitous and always 

 injurious. Sometimes it is so numerous on the plants that on the approach of a disturber 

 it hops off from leaf to leaf with the pattering sound of fine rain or hail. This year it 

 has been abundant in some localities and requires measures for its destruction. In this 

 country, where it is not the practice to feed sheep upon the turnips in the field, it is quite 

 safe to employ a mixture of Paris green and land-plaster in a proportion of one hundred 

 times the quantity of the latter to that of the former. The best time to apply the poison 

 is when the leaves of the plant are wet with dew. 



Another " pestilent fellow " that requires constant watching is the pea-weevil 

 {Bruchus pi'^i, Linn) (Fig. G.) It appears, unhappily, to 

 be on the increase in this Province, As large quantities 

 of choice varieties of peas are grown in order to export 

 the seed, it is a very important matter that they should 

 be perfectly free from this pest. The first precaution to 

 be taken is to make sure that the seed intended to be 

 sow^n is free from the weevils ; in fact, this is about the 

 only thing that can be done owing to the habits of the in- 

 sect and its working inside the pod. Should the .seed be 

 found to be infested with the weevils, the utmost care 

 should be taken to kill them. There are several modes of 

 doing this, but the most effectual is to place the seed in a 

 perfectly tight vessel and to put on the top of the peas a 

 saucer containing a little bisulphide of carbon — one quar- 

 ter of a pound is enough for three hundred weight of peas. 

 This substance, when exposed to the air, becomes con- Fig. g. 



verted into a gas, which being heavier than the atmos- 

 phere, sinks down through the mass of peas and kills all living things exposed to it. 

 it is necessary to exercise the utmost care in its use as it is highly inflammable and any 

 light brought near it will cause an explosion. It is advisable, therefore, to put the peas 

 to be treated into a barrel or other receptacle that can be moved out of doors before the 

 cover is taken off. , 



