106 



ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 



showed its presence interrally. Brood from uncapped cells (larva') of a colony suddenly 

 dying without other apparent cause gave evidence of having died from the eflect of 

 arsenic which could have been introduced only I'rom without. 



In summing up the matter, then, I can see no other conclusion that can be drawn; 

 from the results of my experiments than that bees are liable to be poisoned by spraying 

 the bloom of fruit tree.'', the liability increasing in proportion as the weather is favor- 

 able for the activity of the bees, and that all bloom must have fallen from the trees 

 before the danger will have ceased. 



Finally, I believe we now have the first conclusive proof of the effect on bees by the 

 use of arsenical poisons in the orchard while the trees are in bloom. Heretofore all has- 

 been uncertainty, the siatements made being based on either pure assumption, or, as m 

 one instance, on the result of penning up bees and feeding them on poisoned sweetened 

 water. It is certainly to the credit of the entomological fraternity of America that 

 among their number but few could be found willing to risk a positive assertion based on 

 such slender and unreliable information, and I feel that I am fully justified in pointing; 

 out the fact that in the case of two of our fellow members, Dr. Lintner and Mr. Fletcher^ 

 in the face of the legislative bodies of their respective States, both refused to commit 

 themselves to the extent of making positive statements either one way or the other. 



Mr. Lintner said that his position hitherto had been that laws ought not to be passed 

 on the subject unless it was amply proved that harm did result to bees ; and even in 

 that event, the relative interests of the bee-keepers and fiuit-growers should be carefully 

 weighed, since it has been showed by him that many harmful insects also visited the- 

 blossoms, and they would stand an equal chance with the bees of being poisoned by the- 

 arsenical mixtures. 



Mr. Smith said that the bee-keepers would always have an advantage when it came 

 to securing legislative action, becaur.e, while they represented a comparatively small; 

 number of individuals, they are well organized, and can secuie action where the mueb 

 larger body of fruit growers would be powerless. 



Mr. Southwick read the following] paper : 



ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGICAL WOEK IN THE PAEKS OF NEW YORK 



CITY. 



By E. B. Soutiiwkk, New York City. 



The work of the entomologist of the Department of Public Parks in New York City- 

 is the care of trees, shrubs, and plants in an entomological sense, and is under the direc- 

 tion of the Commissioners. 



The ground to be covered is about 4,000 acres more or less, but most of the work is- 

 confined to the Central and other parks of the city proper. Two men, with the entom - 



Fig. 5G. — The male moth. 





Fig. 57. — {(') The wingless female, Fig. .58. — (c) The male chry- 

 (h) a j'omig larva, sails, {d) the female. 



ologist, constitute the working force, save when the Orgyia cocoons become very abund- 

 ant, then laborers assist in their removal. 



The work is continued the year round every day save Sundays and an occasional 

 holiday, A one-horse spraying machine carrying 2^ barrels of liquid is used for the or 



