332 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 1 



Reviews 



Report of the Government Entomologist for the year 1907, 

 1908, by C. P. LouNSBURY, p. 45-57. 



This summarized report shows that a large amomit of work has been per- 

 formed during the past twelve months. Nursery inspection occupied consid- 

 erable time and is briefly considered, together with a discussion of measures 

 for excluding undesirable stock. A number of destructive insects are briefly 

 noticed and a most interesting method of destroying locust swarms by spray- 

 ing with an arsenical poison is discussed in some detail. Considerable space 

 is devoted to a Plasmopara or downy mildew affecting grape. Brief obser- 

 vations are given on the value of the codling moth parasite, Calliepliialtes 

 messor, introduced several years ago into California. Attempts have been 

 made to secure the introduction into South Africa of a red scale pai'asite from 

 California. 



South Africa offers immense opportunities to the economic entomologist, 

 since he has to do with a fauna almost imknown to the practical scientist. 

 Those acquainted with the brilliant work of Prof. Lounsbury in the study 

 of African ticks and other injurious insects, and possessing some knowledge 

 of tlie possibilities, will agree with the reviewer that it is a mistake and dis- 

 tictly unwise to insist that the entomologist's reports be cut down to mere 

 summarized statements, as has been true in the case under consideration 

 during the past three years. Records of extended investigations can not be 

 stored to advantage in manuscript form. There is alwjiys grave danger that 

 important observations may thus be buried beyond recovery. The results of 

 studies should be published, in order that they may become available to others 

 working along the same lines. They in turn would be of service to the 

 original investigator, since the truth is seldom fully established by one 

 series of experiments, but rather by a number of students, each testing the 

 results of the others. Those cognizant of the immense number of injurious 

 insects and the variations in their habits and methods of work will agree in 

 emphasizing most strongly the value of illustrations as a necessary supple- 

 ment to the text. Frequently the figure of a destructive form leads a man 

 to consult accounts which would otherwise be ignored. An entomological office 

 unable to issue well illustrated, detailed accounts of its work has its use- 

 fulness circumscribed in a most deplorable manner. 



E. P. F. 



Preliminary Report upon Experiments with Powdered Arsenate 

 of Lead as a Boll Weevil Poison, by Wilmon Newell and T. C. 

 Barber. Circular No. 23. State Crop Pest Commission of Louisiana, 

 1908, 40 pp. 



This circular gives a brief summary of the results secured by using Paris 

 Green for controlling the boll weevil in Texas and Louisiana since this insect 

 has become a serious pest. A statement of the results of field and cage ex- 

 periments in Louisiana is given. The work led to the experimental use of 

 powdered arsenate of lead in the spring of 1908. The results of a series of 

 cage experiments where this substance was used are reported, but the data 



