Proceedix«s, 101;1. 37 



gro^tlf would be so checked and disarranged that the trees had to be cut back or 

 reset. In cabbage, turnip, aud tomato fields they were very destructive, and i]i 

 strawberry-beds a great deal of harm was done. In the strawberries the injury was 

 principally on the roots and crowns of the plants. I really think that we have little 

 idea of the great damage done b.r the cutworms. 



Amongst the most common species that we have in the Interior are the red- 

 backed (Parafirotis ochrogaster) , the greasy (Agrotis ypsUon), the variegated (Pcvi- 

 (Iroma saucia), and the zebra caterpillar {Mameatra canadensis). Some twelve; 

 species of cutworms are known in Canada, aud our list might be extended to include 

 the following: Vellow-headed (Hadena arctica), spotted {Xoctua c. nigrum), brown 

 iXcpliclades miniaiis), W. marked (Xocliia clandectina), common striped (Enxo<i 

 tcsscliuta), white climbing {Canieadcs srandiens) , spotted legged {PosograU vcliistu), 

 and dingy (Fcltia suhigothica) . 



The poison bait is possibly the best all-round material to control the cutworms. 

 It is best made by using 1 lb. of paris green, 50 lb. of bran, and about 3 lb. of sugar. 

 The best way to make it is to first moisten the bran a little to cause the paris green 

 to adhere better to it ; then add the paris green and mix well. Where large quanti- 

 ties are needed a canvas sheet is a good article upon which to mix the paris green 

 and bran thoroughly. Just spread the moistened bran on the canvas, sprinkle over 

 it the paris green, and mix well by the use of a garden-rake. Then add the sugar 

 as sweetened water. The bait should be considerably sweeter than the plants which 

 the worms are feeding upon. I found much the best results where the bait was well 

 sweetened and well poisoned. Apply the mash fairly dry, just so that it will almost 

 crumble through the fingers, and apply it in the evenings. About 25 to 50 lb. of the 

 mixture should suffice for an acre of vegetables and fruit. Where fruit-trees only 

 have to be treated much less will be required. It is a wise precaution here to keep 

 the mixture well away from the trees or plants, as the arsenic in the mixture will 

 cause scalding of the bark, and in many cases I have seen trees girdled by the effects 

 of the paris green. In the case of fruit-trees and larger plants the use of tanglefoot 

 has given good results in some districts. .Just place about an inch strip of the 

 tanglefoot around the trunk of the tree about G inches to 1 foot from the ground. 

 This has to be watched closely, lest the dust from cultivating or windstorms might 

 destroy its effectiveness. There was a sticky tree-oil sent out by a Tacoma firm, but 

 it did not give good results, as it melted with the heat of the sun and then crystal- 

 lized. Banding the trees with cotton batten has al.so been used to very good 

 advantage. Just take a tuft of batten and fasten it around the trunk of the tree, 

 leaving it loose on top, and the worms will not climb over it. Running chickens in 

 the orchard is also very effective in controlling the cutworms. 



Cultivation methods can also be practised to assist considerably in controlling 

 the cutworms. If we could have all weeds and plants cut down each fall a great 

 mauy of the larvre and eggs would be destroyed. Cover crops where they have to 

 1)0 left over winter as a protection ci"op is often bad for harbouring the cutworms, 

 and when ploughed nnder in the spring the worms flock to the trees in the orchard. 

 By sowing the cover crops a little later the eggs might be destroyed before the 

 cover crop is sown. The worms make their appearance about the middle of May 

 aud are bad until the end of .Tune. They then pupate and the egg-laying should be 

 over about the end of August. If these dates are correct the cover crops and pro- 

 tection crops could bo sown late in August, when they would not be likely to harbour 

 the worms. 



ECONOMIC ORNITHOLOGY. 



By LioKEf. E. T.\Yi.oi!, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. 



The best definition I can find of "economic ornithology," the title of this paper. 

 is given by Jlr. T. S. Palmer in the U.S.A. Year-booic of the Department of Agricul- 

 ture of 1S99 : " Economic ornithology has been defined as the study of birds from 

 the standiioint of dollars and cents. It deals with birds in their relation to agricul- 



