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constructed, either in the form of a large closet with a door opening 
outside as well as one inside, or that a pit be made. The stable should 
be cleaned daily or every other day, and each time that a day’s or two 
days’ accumulation is added to the pile in the closet or pit a shovelful 
of the chlorid of lime should be thrown over it. When the manure is 
needed for the farm or garden it may just as conveniently be shoveled 
upon a wagon from the outside door of such a closet as described as 
from an outside pile. Thorough experiments were carried on som> 
time since at the stable of the Department of Agriculture and it was 
found that by a little careful, inexpensive work of this kind the num- 
bers of house flies of the whole neighborhood were rapidly and enor- 
mously lessened. 
THE GREEN CLOVER WORM. 
(Plathypena scabra Fab.) 
By F. H. Carrrenpen. 
One of the commonest insects about the District of Columbia is the 
Deltoid moth, Plathypena scabra, the larva of which, called the green 
clover worm, feeds on various leguminous plants, particularly clover. 
During the season of 1897, and again in 1899, this larva was frequently 
observed in connection with observations on insects attacking beans 
and peas in this vicinity. 
RECENT OCCURRENCE. 
Early in June, 1897, larvee, mostly half grown, were observed on 
beans in the District of Columbia; also on soy beans August 18, and 
later nearly or quite mature on peas September 4. During autumn 
they were also observed on a species of tickweed (M/echomia sp.). 
June 14, 1899, Mr. T. A. Keleher, of this office, brought specimens 
of the larve found on beans growing in the city of Washington. 
About the same time the writer observed this species of larva on 
vetch, a forage plant growing on experimental plats at this Depart- 
ment. Larve were still being found on vetch and bean until June 24. 
August 1 larve were found on Lima bean at Marshall Hall, Md., and 
August 10 on the same plant at Cabin John, Md., and during Septem- 
ber larve were again obtained in great numbers on a species of Mei- 
bomia in the former locality. 
Although it appears probable that this species feeds to all practical 
purposes exclusively upon the Leguminose, it is evidently capable of 
subsisting upon other plants, as was proved by the finding at different 
times by the writer of larve that agree with Plathypena scabra in 
every discernible particular on both strawberry and blackberry. 
July 31 a moth of this species was reared from a larva obtained 
on strawberry in the District of Columbia. August 2 a second speci- 
men was reared from a larva from the same strawberry patch. The 
