February, '16] SCIENTIFIC NOTES 245 



Scientific Notes 



Poison Bran Mash Effective in Destroying Sow Bugs. In one of the sections 

 of the Experiment Station greenhouse where the Department of Botany was carrying 

 on plant breeding experiments, the alfalfa and clover plants were seriously injured 

 by sow bugs. Some of the plants were almost completely destroyed. Sliced pota- 

 toes poisoned with Paris green were first tried but did not prove effective. The 

 poisoned bran mash flavored with oranges prepared in the same manner as has been 

 recommended on several occasions by the Kansas Station in the control of grass- 

 hoppers, army worms, and cutworms was then tried, and one application, which 

 simply consisted in scattering a small amount of the mash in the evening about the 

 base of the plants, killed practically all of the sow bugs. 



Geo. a. Dean, Entomologist, 

 Kansas Experiment Station. 



Apicultural Courses. In reply to a questionnaire sent to colleges and universities, 

 the following list of colleges teaching Apiculture has been prepared by Morley 

 Pettit: College of Agriculture, Aberdeen, Scotland, John Anderson; Schools of 

 Agriculture, Province of New Brunswick, Canada, H. B. Durost, Woodstock, N. B.; 

 Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph, Morley Pettit; Massachusetts, Dr. B. N. 

 Gates, Amherst, Mass.; New York, Cornell University, E. R. King, Ithaca, N. Y.; 

 South CaroUna, A. F. Conradi, Clemson College, S. C; Tennessee, G. M. Bentley, 

 Knoxville, Tenn.; Mississippi, R. W. Harned, Agricultural College, Miss.; Texas, 

 F. B. Paddock, College Station, Texas; Ohio, Jas. Hine, Columbus, Ohio; Kentucky, 

 H. Garman, Lexington, Ky.; Indiana, James Troop, Lafayette, Ind., and Walter 

 Price; Michigan, F. E. Millen, East Lansing, Mich.; Wisconsin, H. F. Wilson, 

 Madison, Wis.; Minnesota, Francis Jager, St. Anthony Park, Minn., and L. V. 

 France, St. Paul, Minn.; Iowa, Prof. C. E. Bartholomew, Ames, Iowa; Missouri, 

 L. Haseman, Columbia, Mo., and A. H. HoUinger, Columbia, Mo.; Kansas Agricul- 

 tural College, Geo. A. Dean, Manhattan, Kan.; Kansas University, S. J. Hunter, 

 Lawrence, Kan.; Nebraska, Lawrence Bruner, Lincoln, Neb.; Montana, R. A. 

 Cooley, Bozeman, Mont.; California, Geo. A. Coleman, Berkeley, Cal. If there 

 are any errors or omissions, the writer would like to be advised. 



A Democratic Plan. On Nov. 1, 1915, the reorganization of the Division of 

 Entomology of the Minnesota Agricultural College and Experiment Station took 

 effect. The new organization is as follows: 



The name of the division is changed to that of Economic Zoology. It is divided 

 into four sections: A, Economic Vertebrate Zoology, Professor F. L. Washburn in 

 charge, who also conducts Nursery Inspection work and has charge of all work 

 with mill and ware-house insects and with Minnesota Hymenoptera. Mr. Wash- 

 burn retains his title of Professor of Entomology in the University of Minnesota. 

 B, Spraying and Tree Insects, Associate Professor A. G. Ruggles in charge. C, 

 Field Crop Pests and Parasites, Assistant Professor C. W. Howard in charge. D, 

 Greenhouse and Truck Crop Insects, Assistant Professor William Moore in charge. 



The administration of the division lies in the hands of a committee composed of 

 the heads of sections. The Chairman of the committee (an executive position) is 

 appointed annually by the Dean of the College, with the approval of the President 

 of the University and of the Board of Regents. Professor F. L. Washburn was 

 appointed Chairman for the present year. The position of Chairman carries with 

 it that of Entomologist to the Experiment Station and a State law provides that 

 the Station Entomologist shall be State Entomologist. 



This organization is rather a remarkable step in the direction of a greater de- 

 mocracy in the management of a University Department and may interest other 

 entomologists. 



F. L. Washburn. 



