ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 



This, combined with other intelligent farm practice will, I think, prove the main 

 reliance of the farmer in future. Insecticides will and must continue to be used in some 

 cases ; but in my opinion they have been sometimes relied upon to the exclusion of more 

 radical measures. 



The strength at which a substance proves eflFective, and its action on the plant, are 

 matters of importance. Two hundred pounds of nitrate of soda and 600 pounds of kainit 

 are not unusually large applications, and calculating this amount to onion rows I found 

 that to make a thorough application I must use the nitrate at the rate of 5J ounces to 1 

 gallon of water, and kainit, 1 pound to 1 gallon. I made certain that these were effective 

 insecticide mixtures, and then had one of our leading onion growers try them over onion 

 rows. They did not injure the plants in the least, either as to leaf or bulb, and as 10-foot 

 rows were treated, injury would have been quickly noticed. Even the tender foliage of 

 the rose will stand a solution of kainit at the rate of 8 ounces in 1 gallon. 



As a matter of fact the solutions which come into contact with the insects are often 

 saturated' and much stronger than the mixture given, for if the material is broadcasted or 

 sown in the rows, each drop of water carries with it all that it can dissolve, and as the 

 moisture evaporates, the mixture becomes just as strong as it is possible to be, and of course 

 the insecticide effect is intensified. 



I will close by simply referring to the fact that the phospates have no insecticide 

 value so far as my experience has gone — not even the odorless phosphate, which has been 

 put upon the market with the usual nostrum circular claiming that it would kill every- 

 thina:. 



This paper was discussed by Messrs. Hopkins and Webster. 



Mr. Hopkins thought it was a question as to whether the fertilizers really kill 

 insects, or by giving plants increased vigour enable them to outgrow injures. He had 

 observed in his practice on the farm that the use of stable manure on sod infested with 

 white grubs and wire-worms had the effect or producing a good crop of corn when plowed 

 under, while on adjoining land not fertilized, the attack of these insects was very destruc- 

 tive. 



Mr. Webster had no doubt that fertilizers increased the vigor of plants, but thought 

 that Mr. Smith had n t demonstrated that they destroyed or drove away the insects. 



The above papers were all read at the first session of the Association on the after- 

 noon of August 14th. At the second session on the morning of the 15th letters were 

 read from certain foreign entomologists regretting their inability to attend the meeting. 



Mt. Garman presented a paper on the " Preservation of Larvie for Study." He drops 

 the larva into water heated to the boiling point, leaving it for 15 seconds. Then, when 

 the body wall is somewhat rigid, he takes it up with the forceps and with a fine sharp 

 scissors cuts a slit along the underside of the body, dropping it into the water for a few 

 seconds longer. It is then transferred to 50 per cent, alcohol and in 12 hours to 70 per 

 cent., and in 12 hours afterwards to 95 per cent, for permanent preservation. Shape, colours 

 and structure are well preserved in this way. As a substitute for alcohol he recommends : 

 boiling water, 250 cc. ; common salt, 3 tea-spoonfuls ; powdered alum, one teaspoonful; pure 

 carbolic acid, 5 drops ; filter. 



Mr. Forbes spoke of the preservation of fruits at the World's Fair and suggested that 

 plants injured by insects may be preserved in the same way. Mr. Summers had found 

 nothing which would satisfactorily preserve fruits. Mr. Osborn thought that aqueous 

 preparations would freeze. Mr. Smith has employed with success methods similar to those 

 of Mr. Garman. 



A paper by Mr. Cockerell entitled, " The Distribution of Coccidfe," was read by the 

 Secretary. He compared the Coccidae of the different West India Islands with the 

 adjoining mainland, and spoke of the further distribution of a number of species which he 

 had studied in Jamaica. Of 18 species found on that Island all but 3 are known else- 

 where, and 11 have been detected outside of neotropical regions. 



Mr. Hopkins presented his views on " Note and Recordkeeping for the Economic 

 Entomologist." He described the system which he has worked out and adopted and which 



