466 



Bruchids in the field, though lead arsenate, applied during the oviposi- 

 tion period, may destroy the young or deter the adults from ovipositing 

 on the green pods. 



As Bruchus pisorum has only one brood during the year it has 

 been suggested that simply keeping infested seed peas confined in a 

 bin or in sacks, so that the adults cannot escape, is the only precaution 

 necessary to prevent future injury in the fields. This would be suc- 

 cessful, if universally practised. The weevils can, however, all be 

 destroyed in storage by fumigating with carbon bisulphide. This 

 should be done at a temperature of 70° F. or more, one teaspoonful 

 of the liquid being used to each cubic foot of space, reducing the 

 quantity according to the amount of space occupied by the seeds. 

 The liquid should be placed in a small dish on the top of the seeds 

 and the receptacle tightly closed down for not less than 24 hours. 

 The results of experiments with varying quantities, temperatures 

 and times of exposure are given. Dry heat at 122° was found to kill 

 all the adults. A list is given of practicable temperatures and 

 periods for treating cowpeas, wheat, and maize. Low temperatures 

 are fatal to the insects ; at zero all stages can be killed by 

 exposing them to that temperature throughout a night. The 

 germination of the seeds is not affected by this treatment. A 

 table shows the effect of low temperatures on the beetles. The 

 effect of carbon bisulphide on the germination of seeds is discussed 

 and a table shows the results of experiments. The use of more 

 than 1 teaspoonful of the liquid to a cubic foot (1 lb. to 83 cub. ft.) 

 was found to be injurious. 



Enemies of the cowpea Bruchids include Chalcidids, and the mite,, 

 Pediculoides ventricosus. 



Garman (H.). Foul-Brood of Bees; its Recognition and Treatment. 



— Kentucky Agric. Expt. Sta., Lexington, Circ. no. 17, August 1917, 

 pp. 99-106, 3 figs. [Received 21st August 1918.] 



In discussing the treatment of foul-brood in this paper, particular 

 stress is laid upon the necessity for transferring infected bees to a 

 movable frame hive, the process being described in detail. 



Paull (J.). White Ants. — Jl. Dept. Agric. S. Australia, Adelaide, 

 XX, no. 10, May 1917, p. 782. [Received 21st August 1918.] 



To prevent termites from working their way into a wooden building 

 it is essential that it should be erected upon jarrah or red gum stumps, 

 the ends let into the ground being first well charred with fire and, 

 if possible, tarred. The top of the stumps should be sawn oft" hori- 

 zontally at floor plate level, and a strip of flat galvanised iron, 

 projecting 3 or 4 in. beyond the faces of the stumps all round, secured 

 to them. If the termites then work their way up the stumps, the 

 galvanised iron will stop them. The floor-plates should then be 

 secured to the stumps on top of the galvanised iron. As an additional 

 precaution the floor joists should be treated, especially the ends, 

 with a termite exterminator, also the under-side and joints of flooring 

 boards, bottom lengths of studs, etc. Plenty of light and air must 

 circulate under the building, and on no account should any earth be 

 in contact with the timber. 



