99 



this agent, but they are, however, of httle economic importance. The 

 author refers also to the good qualities of " Locusticide," consisting 

 of a ready-made preparation of sodium arsenite with molasses, manu- 

 factured by an English firm, the advantages of which would be greatly 

 increased if supplied in a more concentrated form, thus diminishing 

 its bulk and saving carriage. Poisoned baits have many advantages- 

 over spraying, being considerably less expensive, as they do not involve 

 the sacrifice of part of the crops in order to poison the insects and are 

 in no way dependant on the weather. The Bureau at Stavropol pre- 

 pared baits sufficient for about 1 acre consisting of 50 lb. of bran, 1 lb. 

 of sodium arsenite and about 11 gallons of water at a cost of 6d. or 7d. 

 per acre. There is no necessity to add molasses to the baits, but even 

 when added, the price will compare favourably with the cost of spraying. 

 " Locusticide " has been used by the Bureau as poison for the baits 

 with great success. It was never found necessary to repeat the scatter- 

 ing of the poisoned baits, which attracted the locusts sitting on plants 

 as well as those which were on the move ; the first dead locusts were 

 found a few hours after the baits had been put out and in not more 

 than two days the whole swarm was destroyed. It is therefore con- 

 cluded that the stoppage of the supply of Paris green need not put an 

 end to the application of the chemical method and may even have 

 beneficial results in bringing about the apphcation of more effective 

 insecticides and to increased use of poisoned baits. 



OlBtTbl. [Replies: Pteronus m6e5a.]— « FlporpecCMBHOe CaflOBOfl- 

 CTBO M OropOflHl1MeCTBO.» [Progressive Fruit-Growing and Mar ket- 

 Gardening],Petrograd, no. 43, 8th November 1914, pp. 1330-1331. 



Pteronus vibesii [Nematits ventricosus] attacks gooseberries and 

 currants, its larvae appearing twice yearly in May and July and 

 the pupae wintering almost on the surface of the earth. The 

 remedies against it consist in spraying with Paris green, cultivating 

 the soil in autumn in order to expose the wintering pupae to the 

 influence of the weather, and shaking down the larvae on to cloth or 

 paper and then destroying them. The last remedy is considered the 

 most effective and is best carried out by throwing handfuls of basic 

 slag on to the bushes, causing the larvae to drop down on the cloth 

 or paper placed below. This can only be successfully done when the 

 bushes are quite dry ; after the operation they must be sprayed with 

 water. 



Les ennemis de I'olivier. [Pests of the olive.] — Bull, bi-mens. Off. Gouv. 

 Gen. Algerie, Paris, xx, no. 18, lst-15th November 1914, p. 286. 



Two small beetle pests of the olive, the Scolytidae, PJiloeofribus 

 scarabaeoides and Hylesinns oleiperda, have been studied in Italy, 

 where serious damage is done by them, both in the larval and adult 

 stages. The first sign of attack is furnished by the twigs strewn on 

 the ground beneath the tree, having been completely cut through. 

 The older twigs which remain on the tree are attacked at the base, 

 a deep excavation with rust-red edges being noticeable there. As the 

 tree becomes weaker, the infestation increases in severity and the 

 olive crop suffers severely. The adults hibernate in the chambers- 



