112 



All insects require a certain amount of moisture in their surroundings 

 and their food to enable them to live. Even grain-feeding insects 

 cannot live in thoroughly dried grain. Sun-drying may often be made 

 use of to reduce the moisture present in the attacked food. This is 

 far the best method for peasants and others who have comparatively 

 small stocks to handle. 



Correspondence. — -Planters' Chronicle, Bangalore, xi, no. 1, 1st January 

 1916, pp. 8-9. 



According to Mr, H. L. Andrewes, leaf-spot disease of coffee in 

 British East Africa can be prevented by spraying with a solution 

 made up according to the formula : 40 lb. copper sulphate in 40 gals. 

 water ; for use, 4 gals, of stock solution are made up to 40 gals., the 

 acidity being neutralised by the addition of about 14 oz. of calcium 

 carbide, either in the form of lumps or powder. This spray is applied 

 at the end of the rains, and its adhesive power is said to be remarkable. 



Smith (H. S.). Report of the State Insectary.— ilM??/. Bull. Gal. 

 State Commiss. Hortic., Sacramento, iv, no. 12, December 1915. 

 pp. 542-543. 



During the period in which the author was connected with the 

 State Insectary, attention was mainly devoted to a study of two 

 imported pests, namely, black scale [Saissetia oleae] and mealy bug 

 [Pseudococcus citri]. Several insect enemies of these pests were 

 introduced, including : — Cocco'pJiagus orientalis, How., a parasite of the 

 partly-grown black scale, from South Africa ; the Coccinellids, 

 Chilocorus bipustidafus, L., and Exochmnus i-pusiidatus, L., from 

 Italy, predaceous on black, citricola, purple and other scales ; 

 Paralejjtomastix abnormis, Gir., a Sicilian parasite of the mealy bug ; 

 Scymnus bijmnctatns, Kug., a Coccinellid enemy of mealy bugs, from 

 the Philippines; Apanteles glomeratus, L., a Hymenopterous 

 parasite of Pieris rajpae (cabbage worm) ; the Chalcid, Zahphothrix 

 7nirum, Ashm., a parasite of the black scale, from the British West 

 Indies; and Leucopis sp., predaceous on mealy bugs. Coccinellids 

 have been distributed every year to melon growers and others for the 

 destruction of Aphids. 



Prizer (J. A.). Home Manufacture of Lime-Sulphur Concentrate. — 



Mthly. Bull. Cal. State Commiss. Hortic, Sacramento, iv, no. 12, 

 December 1915, pp. 547-557, 5 figs. 



A plant for the manufacture of lime-sulphur solution is described 

 and illustrated. The average cost of a plant having a capacity of 

 25 barrels a day is about £37. The quality and cost of materials are 

 important. The sulphur can be used in the form of flowers of sulphur 

 or as a fine powder, the latter costing about one-third less than the 

 former. The lime should be the best obtainable (90 to 100 per cent, of 

 calcium oxide) ; partially slaked lime should be discarded. The most 

 satisfactory formula is : 50 lb. unslaked lime, 100 lb. sulphur, and 

 50 gals, water. This should give a solution testing from 29° to 30° Be. 



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