252 



Some modifications in drying methods have ensured the practical 

 utihty of this product ; its economic vahie, as a set-off to the damage 

 done by locusts and the cost of their control in regions subject to 

 periodic invasion, is obvious. 



Vogelschutz. [Bird Protection.] — Schiveiz. Zeitschr. Obst.- u. Weinhau, 

 Frauenjeld, xxix, no. 7, 3rd April 1920, pp. 106-108. 



In view of the increasing losses due to insects the necessity for 

 providing nesting facilities for birds is urged, especially since natural 

 ones are becoming rare in Switzerland owing to progress in agriculture 

 and forestry. Many useful birds destroy three or four thou and 

 insects a day during their breeding period, a result that is not obtained 

 by artificial methods. 



Berlese (A.). Torner^ la Diaspis sui nostri Gelsi ? [Will Aulacaspis 

 joewto^owa re-infest our Mulberry Trees I] — BoU. A gricoltura, no. 11, 

 (Reprint in La Campagna, Como, xix, no. 318, 31st March 1920, 

 p. 1, 1 fig.) 



Alarm has been expressed in various districts of north Italy regard- 

 ing an apparent re-infestation by Aulacaspis pentagona, and the aim 

 of this article is to point out that the increase of the scale is only 

 temporary and is due to its momentary preponderance in the ever- 

 varying balance between it and its parasite, Prospaltella bedesei, which 

 latter is bound to regain the upper hand after a short interval. 



LoTRioNTE (G.). La Cocciniglia grigia della Vite. [Targionia vitis.] 

 — La Nuova AgricoUura del Lazio, Rome, viii, no. 174, 1st April 

 1920, p. 42. 



In Italy two scales, Pseudococcus (Dactylopius) vitis and Targionia 

 vitis, usually attack the grape-vine, the latter being the more common. 

 In 1920 it is proving rather serious in some parts of the province of 

 Rome. Tar-oil or lime-sulphur sprays are recommended, or the 

 stocks may be painted with an acid solution of iron sulphate after 

 the dead bark has been scraped off. 



Berliner (E.). Uber die Schlaffsucht der Mehlmottenraupe {Ephestia 

 kulmiella, Zell.) und ihren Erreger, Bacillus thmingiensis, n. sp. 

 [Wilt Disease of the Meal-moth Caterpillar {Ephestia kuhniella, 

 Zell), and its Causal Agent, Bacillus thuiingiensis, sp. n.] — 

 Zeitschr. f. angew. Entom., Berlin, ii, no. 1, April 1915, pp. 29-56, 

 7 figs. [Received 19th April 1920.] 



Extensive observations have been made with regard to wilt disease 

 affecting the larva of the meal moth, Ephestia kuhniella, Z. The 

 disease can only be definitely diagnosed under the microscope and is 

 apparently due to infection with Bacillus thamigiensis, sp. n., the 

 morphology, cytology and cultm-al features of which are described. 



Exj^eriments show that infection occurs through ingestion and the 

 organism develops in the intestinal tract. The disease thus acquired 

 always proved fatal, whether the organism had been obtained from 



