AGRICULTUKAL STATISTICS. 579 



one season. He advises farmers to syringe the infested plants witli tobacco 

 boiled in strong lye, or some otlier offensive mixture ; perhaps a strong decoc- 

 tion of quassia wood would answer. We have found a similar insect on the 

 common horse nettle in Georgia. 



We noAV come to the family of ladybirds, or bugs, as they are incorrectly 

 termed. All these (save one species) may be considered highly beneficial to 

 the agriculturist in both the larva and pupa state, as they destroy myriads of 

 ]i)laut and bark lice, and other insects, which, if left unchecked by this and 

 other predatory insects, would multiply so fast as to destroy almost all vegeta- 

 tion. We have seen one species, ( Chilocorus bivulncrus,) black, Avith two red 

 spots on the wing cases, busily employed in the spring tearing open the cases 

 of the bark lice on pines, and devouring the eggs deposited beneath them. 

 Another species destroys the orange bark louse. We have even seen some of 

 the ladybirds pierce the skin of newly changed chrysalides to feed upon their 

 juices. There is one of this family, (the spotted squash beetle or bug,) how- 

 ever, the larva and pupa of which are very destructive to the foliage and flowers 

 of squash, melon, and cucumber plants. The eggs are placed in irregular 

 groups or clusters on the under side of the leaves. The yellow larvae are cov- 

 ered with branching spines. The })upa is formed in the thorny skin of the 

 larva. This injurious ladybird may be readily distinguished from the bene- 

 ficial ladybird by its larger size, more yellow color, and by having seven 

 roundish, black spots on each wing cover -when closed, and four smaller spots 

 upon the thorax or middle part of the body. Mr. Uhler recommends sweeping 

 them from the plants with a net ; and perhaps, if the same remedies were em- 

 ployed to make the leaves distasteful to the insects, as recommended for the 

 striped cucumber beetle, they might be found to answer. 



This part (No. 1) concludes an account of the remedies already proposed and 

 practiced for the destruction of the coleopterous insects or beetles. As the 

 whole subject would occupy too much space in the present volume, the other 

 orders, viz., the grasshoppers, dragon flies, wasps and hornets, butterflies and 

 moths, plant bugs, plant lice, and flies, will necessarily be deferred until the 

 Eeport of 1SG4. 



TOWNEND GLOVER. 



Hon. Isaac Newton, 



Coinmissioncr of Agriculture. 



REPORT OF AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. 



August, 1864. 

 Sir: In laying before you my first annual report of the statistical division 

 of the Department of Agriculture, it is proper that I should refer to the objects 

 proposed to be accomplished by it. Aside from some of a minor and incidental 

 nature, the principal are: 



1. The collection of agricultural statistics showing the condition and amount 

 of the crops at brief intervals, monthly or bi-monthly, as the interests of 

 agriculture demand. The object of these statistics, and the plan adopted for 

 their collection, are stated at length in the accompanying report. 



2. The collection and arrangement of such statistical matter as exhibits the 

 commerce, both foreign and domestic, in the leading agricultural products ; 



