April, '16] TALBERT: EXTENSION ENTOMOLOGIST 287 



through the three cells was more heavily charged with the bisulfide 

 than after passing through one cell only. 



For the field work, an iron retort was constructed having a quarter- 

 inch gas-pipe passing through the lid to the bottom of the apparatus, 

 and an opening near the top to which was joined a rubber hose. The 

 other end of the hose was connected to the stem of a metal funnel, 

 placed in an inverted position over the entrance of the ant hill and 

 the earth banked up about the funnel's sides. About two litres of 

 bisulfide was poured into the apparatus and air from a blacksmith's 

 bellows forced through it. Working in fields where there were 

 numerous, newly established colonies, thus necessitating considerable 

 moving about, approximately two litres of bisulfide were used per 

 day. As compared with the sulfur fumes method, it is more rapid, 

 convenient, and, so far as the writer was able to judge, during the 

 short time after the work was started that he remained in Cuba, the 

 results seemed more lasting. 



The field apparatus was exceedingly crude, and would admit of 

 much improvement. An air pump instead of a bellows and a thin 

 sheet-metal retort instead of an iron one would both lighten and sim- 

 plify the machine. 



Should future studies demonstrate the indicated effectiveness of the 

 method described, its usefulness as a means of destroying the Attiine 

 ants alone would be rather extensive, since according to Wheeler the 

 range of distribution of this tribe is between the 40th parallels, and, 

 should the treatment prove effective and practicable against other 

 earth-inhabiting ants, its range would be considerably increased. 

 Introducing the gas under pressure, the gas being heavier than air, 

 and the cheapness of the process, are all points in its favor. 



SOME WORK OF THE EXTENSION ENTOMOLOGIST IN 

 KANSAS AND MISSOURI 



By Thos. J. Talbert, Extension Entomologist, Agricultural Extension 

 Service, University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo. 



The chief object of the extension entomologist is to acquaint the 

 gardener, the orchardist and the farmer with the practical facts about 

 the habits, life-histories, injuries and control of insects. When this 

 has been done the producer is more capable of intelligently shaping 

 his farm practices in a way that will be unfavorable to the develop- 

 ment of injurious insects. He is also more interested in his work, and 

 if sprays, poison bait, or mechanical barriers are necessary to control 

 the pests, he knows how to prepare and how to use them most effect- 

 ively. 



