204 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 
strikes the insect, but it seems almost impossible to get at the Plant-lice when they are 
on the underside of the leaves.”—_[W. S. Blair. 
Severa] specimens were also sent from different localities in Ontario. Mr. A. W, 
Donaldson found them very troublesome at Shakespeare, Oxford Co., Ont. 
* Leamington, Essex Co., Ont., Nov. 24.—The most troublesome insects we had to 
contend with this season were Aphids on the plum and cherry trees. They were especially 
bad on the plum. I have never before seen them so numerous. They came in such 
numbers that we could do nothing with them. I sprayed, but after the leaves had 
curled it was hard to get at the insects. I had to mike the emulsion as strong as we 
dared to use it ; otherwise it would not kill them.”—{W. W. Hilborn. | 
Remedies.—Many of my correspondents, while acknowledging the efficacy of kerosene 
emulsion as a remedy fatal to all Plant-lice, at the same time dislike using it on account 
_of its odour and destructive effect on India-rubber hoses. Recent experiments have 
shown that good work can be done with some of the other washes usually recommended. 
Mr. R. M. Palmer, who has had a great deal of experience in treating the Apple Plant- 
louse and other species in British Columbia speaks very strongly in favour of the 
following tobacco and soap wash : ‘Soak 4 pounds waste tobacco in 9 gallons hot water 
for 4 or 5 hours (or in the same quantity of cold water for 4 or 5 days) ; dissolve 1 pound 
whale-oil soap in one gallon hot water; strain the tobacco decoction in the dissolved 
soap, and apply the mixture to affected trees with a spray pump, using a fine nozzle and 
all the force possible.” 
Prof. Gillette, when speaking of the attack on plums in Colorado by Plant-lice, 
says :—‘ In our experiments whale-oil soap, in the proportion of 1 pound to 8 gallons of 
water has been more effectual than the ordiaary kerosene emulsion in destroying the 
lice. The powdery excretion upon the surface of these lice interferes greatly with any 
successful treatment unless the application be made with much force.” 
THE Bronze APPLE-TREE WEEVIL (Magdalis enescens, Lec.).—Complaints have been 
received from time to time of injury from this weevil, the larve of which infest the 
hark of apple trees in British Columbia. Last summer a new attack was observed by 
tev. G. W. Taylor on Gabriola Island, B.C., when the perfect beetles swarmed in 
myriads on cherry trees and devoured the foliage. 
THE WESTERN STRAWBERRY CrOWN-BORER (TZyloderma foveolatum, Say).— 
Specimens of this British Columbian beetle were received from Vancouver Island last 
summer. References have been made occasionally to injuries to the strawberry plant in 
British Columbia by a crown-borer. As I had never found nor received from that pro- 
vince specimens of the ordinary Srawberry Crown-borer I was very anxious to secure 
specimens of this western pest, for identification. In June last I was pleased to 
receive specimens of the mature beetie, from Messrs. E. A. Carew-Gibson and R. M. 
Palmer of Victoria. These proved to be T'yloderma foveolatum, Say, ‘which had not been 
previously recorded as a pest of cultivated crops. Mr. Carew Gibson writes “I am 
sending you some weevils from a strawberry patch which they have completely wiped 
out this spring ;’ and Mr. Palmer writes on the same subject—“Thank you for the name 
of the strawberry weevil ; the specimens were sent to me from Cowichan, where they had 
entirely ruined a small strawberry bed.” 
Tue Currant Maacor, Currant Fly (£pochra Canadensis, Loew.).—Another 
question which has been settled during the past summer, is the indentity of an insect 
which does an enormous amount of injury to Black Currants in British Columbia, 
the fruit being rendered quite unfit for use owing to the Jarge numbers of maggots 
which infest it. I have for years endeavoured in vain to get specimens of the fly or 
infested fruit so as to breed the fly. I am now under obligation to Mr. Carew-Gibson, 
for an opportunity to examine some flies bred by him from these maggots. 
‘Victoria, May 21.—I am sending you some specimens of the flies hatched from 
my currant fruit worms, i.e., the insect which lives in the larval stage inside the fruit of 
the currant. Is this Lpochra Canadensis? The flies hatched out yesterdy (May 20), 
and I now recognize them as a very common fly here at certain times.” The flies 
received were well marked examples of Hnochra Canadensis, Lew., an insect which 
