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least 10 per cent., representing a monetary loss of about £1,600,000. 

 A marked reduction in the damage done is expected in 1919, as 90 per 

 cent, of the joint- worms in the north-western counties were attacked 

 by parasites. Two species occur in the western and eastern parts of 

 the State respectively, the latter, however, never having caused 

 disastrous damage. 



The Hessian fly [Mayetiola destructor] was nc»ticeable nearly every- 

 where, but onty in a few of the north-western counties did it reach 

 an average infestation of 4 or 5 per cent. 



Chinch bugs [Blissiis leucopterus] occurred in small numbers over 

 most of the western part of the State, and in some places were injurious 

 to maize following the wheat harve.st. 



The wheat midge [Contarinia trilici] occurred in nearly every field 

 in the State, the total damage, however, being probably not more 

 than 1 per cent. The females oviposit in May in the glumes of the 

 wheat grains, the larvae feeding on the young grains and causing 

 them to shrivel. When full-grown they descend to the ground in 

 which they make small cells about half an inch below the surface, where 

 they hibernate. Bearded wheats and rye generally suffer less from 

 this pest than the smooth varieties of wheat. 



These insect pests may be guarded against by early sowing, by 

 ploughing mider the stubble to a depth of 7 or 8 inches, by the use 

 of fertihsers, such as barnyard manure and acid phosphate, of which 

 it is advisable to use 200 to 300 lb. to the acre, and by the formation 

 of a good firm seed-bed, best secured by disking and harrowing 

 several times after deep ploughing. 



Berger (E. W.). Cabbage Worms. — Qtrly. Bull. Florida State Plant 

 Board, Gainesville, iii, no. 1, October 191S, p. 16. [Received 

 30th December 1918.] 



The standard remedies for cabbage worms \Pieris] are arsenical 

 poisons. These are best applied as a spray, but may be used in dust 

 form mixed with one to several parts of hydrated Ume or other dust 

 when the plants are wet. The following formulae are recommended :- 

 ,(1) Paris green 1 lb., soap 5 or 6 lb., water 50 U.S. gals. (2) Lead 

 arsenate (powdered) 2 lb., soap 5 or 6 lb., water 50 U.S. gals. (3) Zinc 

 arsenite (powdered) 2 lb., soap 5 or 6 lb., water 50 U.S. gals. A 

 remedy that may be used on cabbages that have formed heads consists 

 in dusting the plants with air-slaked hme with which a Httle salt has 

 been thoroughly mixed, at the rate of a handful of salt to 2 gals. hme. 

 Other measures that are recommended are hand-picking in small 

 patches or home gardens, and sprinkhng with hot water at a tempera- 

 ture of 130° F., the latter being specially efficacious against the young 

 caterpillars. 



Bragdon (K. E.). Quarantine Department. — Qtrly. Bull. Florida 

 State Plant Board, Gainesville, iii, no. 1, October 1918, pp. 18-19. 

 [Received 30th December 1918.] 



During the quarter ending 30th September 1918 some of the principal 

 pests intercepted from foreign countries were : — Aspidiotus sp. on 

 Glohularia, Glover's scale [Lepidosaphes gloveri] and chaff scale 

 [Parlatoria pergandei] on citrus from Spain ; Aspidistra scale 



