98 



Shtcherbakov (Th.). KyKypyaa m QJeeflCKafl wiyxa. [Maize and the 

 Swedish fly.] — (From the materials of the Entomological Branck 

 of the Shatilovsk Agricultural Experimental Station). « B'tCTHMK'b 

 Ce/lbCKaro X03flilCTBa.» [Herald of Agriculture], Moscow, no. 43, 

 8th November 1914, pp. 10-12. 



During the summer of 1914, damage by the Swedish fly {Oscinis frit) 

 to maize crops was observed at the Shatilovsk Agricultural Experi- 

 mental Station, and this is said to be the first record of maize being 

 attacked by this pest. The damage was first noticed on the 30th June 

 on a field of the Station where maize has been sown for many years in 

 succession. During the last few years the nature of the injuries was- 

 typical of this pest. The growing point of the stalk is attacked by 

 the larvae and withers in the same way as is the case with other cereals,, 

 when injured by this pest. 



Owing to the fact that the attacked plants show a tillering far in 

 excess of that usually observed for maize and that the pest does not 

 completely destroy the plants, it is doubtful as to how far this insect 

 is really harmful. It has not been possible at present to compute the 

 effect upon the yield. 



Eeference is made to the statements of N. V. Kurdjumov [see this- 

 Review, Ser. A, i, pp. 497-498] and N. V. Andrejeva wdio regard the 

 Swedish fly as a useful insect in the case of summer-sown wheat, in 

 that the injuries it causes stimulate the formation of fruit. The many 

 advantages offered by maize, as compared with other grain crops, for 

 further researches and experiments on the effects of this pest, are 

 pointed out. 



UvARov (B. p.). Bnnmaiiiuifl nepcneKTMBbi btj TexHMKt 6opb6bi ci* 

 capaHHeBblMH. [The immediate prospects in the technique of the 

 fight against locusts.] — « SeMnefltnbseCKafl ra3eTa.» [Agricultural 

 Gazette], Petrograd, no. 43 (55), 8th November 1914, pp. 1376-1380. 



The possible effects of the present international position on the 

 chemical method of controlling locusts in Russia, which of late years 

 has nearly replaced the mechanical one, is reviewed. The war 

 has closed to Russia the source of supply of the insecticide most 

 used in this connection, viz., Paris green. This insecticide is, however, 

 by no means the best, and attempts made to supersede it by arsenical 

 preparations are recorded, excellent results being obtained with 

 sodium arsenite. This insecticide, besides having a more rapid effect 

 and being better able to withstand the influence of rains, proved also 

 less expensive. In the campaign of the Entomological Bureau of 

 Stavropol in 1913, the cost of spraying with sodium arsenite was about 

 20 per cent, cheaper when horse-drawn sprayers were used, and 13 per 

 cent, cheaper in case of hand-sprayers than the corresponding cost of 

 spraying with Paris green. The easy handhng of sodium arsenite 

 results also in an increase of the area sprayed per diem, which was for 

 sodium arsenite 32 acres with horse- sprayers and 2| acres with hand- 

 sprayers, compared with 251 acres and 2 acres respectively for Paris 

 green. The disadvantage of this insecticide consists in its liability 

 to scorch the plants, but this can be avoided by careful handling and 

 regulation of doses. Reeds are pecuharly liable to be scorched by 



