34 SECOND REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



covered for combating the number of insect pests which are taxing the 

 ingenuity and perseverance of orchardists and vineyardists. While these 

 fowls will not undoubtedly keep vines and trees entirely free from pests^ 

 they render a vast amount of assistance in that direction. They are 

 proving especially valuable in case of invasion of grasshoppers. Indeed, 

 where this pest has not appeared in overwhelming numbers, fowls are 

 the most effective remedy yet discovered for their destruction. Thousands 

 of dollars have been saved to the fruit and vine-growers of this county 

 the present season by the keeping of fowls in their orchards and vine- 

 yards. * * * * Ducks have not been used here much for this pur- 

 pose, but are said to do very satisfactory work. They have the most 

 insatiable appetites for grasshoppers of any of the domestic fowls. The 

 raising of ducks in itself is very profitable. Fruit culture and poultry 

 raising seem destined to become inseparable industries in this country. 

 {^Pacific Rural Press.) 



Insecticidal Properties of some of the Composite. 



Prof. F. G. Sanborn has written me as follows : 



" I will here call your attention to the fact that several other of the 

 CompositcE. besides those that you have mentioned, notably, Leuca?ithe- 

 mum vulgare (the ox-eye daisy) and Maruta cotula (the common May- 

 weed) have proved very useful insecticides and were continually recom- 

 mended by me when acting entomologist to the Massachusetts State 

 Board of Agriculture from 1858 to 1869, inclusive. They have been 

 used in powder, also in tea made from the flowers without pulverizing? 

 and with excellent effect. A strong tea made from the grocer's ' Cayenne 

 pepper ' has been applied to plants infested with mandibulate insects 

 [furnished with mandibles for biting], with good results, and has also 

 been used as a protection from carpet eating insects." 



A New Instrument for use against Root-Insects. 

 An instrument has lately been devised by Dr. W. S. Barnard by which 

 those insecticides which are dangerous to plants, such as kerosene, cyan- 

 ide of potassium [KCN], and bisulphide of carbon [CS2], might be used 

 with safety to the plants and the destruction of the insects in the ground. 

 These substances have usually been applied on or just beneath the sur- 

 face of the ground, either among or above the roots, but killing them 

 when used in strength when coming in contact with them. When ap- 

 plied in volatile form they are less injurious. The instrument for con- 

 veying the insecticide beneath the roots, called a "nether-inserter," 

 consists of a tube fitting closely around a solid shaft somewhat longer 

 than the tube and pointed at its lower end, the tube being 15 mm. in 

 diameter [0.6 inch] and the shaft 12 mm. [0.48 inch]. The upper end 



