50 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE, 
factory remedies. The injuries of this Icerya have so seriously 
affected the fruit interests of southern California that the leading — 
fruit-growers, in convention assembled, have earnestly petitioned — 
Congress to give you the power to have the natural parasites and 
enemies of the insect in its native country studied and imported. [J 
have not a doubt that much practical good would result from the 
study of these parasites in their native country and their introdue- 
tion to southern California. It would be particularly appropriateto _ 
make an effort in this direction in 1888, because of the International — 
Exposition at Melbourne in which this Government will take part, — 
The exposition, in many ways, would further the investigation re- 
ferred to and asked for by the people of California. The expenses 
would be trifling if one of the salaried agents of the Division could — 4 
be employed therefor; but the clause in the appropriation which 
restricts traveling feeds for the Division of Entomology to the 
United States precludes the sending of any one without some special 
law, and IJ earnestly call your attention to this fact. 
Mr. Koebele, stationed at Alameda, has experimented chiefly upon 
other scale-insects, and he has found that arsenious acid in one form 
or another is a valuable addition to the kerosene, emulsified with resin 
compound, as I suggested it would prove to be in my address before 
the State Board of Horticulture at Riverside last April (see Bulletin 
No, 15, Division of Entomology). In every instance where the arsenic 
was added the result was a complete extermination of all scales, He 
has also obtained excellent results in the application of the dilute resin 
compound against Plant-lice, including the destructive Woolly Aphis 
of the Apple (Schizoneura lanigera). In the proportion of one part 
of the compound to eight parts of water it was found that the lice were 
killed without injury to the beneficial Syrphus larve or to the in- 
ternal parasites of the lice, 
The report published from Prof. Herbert Osborn, of Ames, Iowa, re- 
lates to some of the more important insects of theseasoninIowa. The 
Turf Web-worm (Orambus exsiccatus) has been particularly abund- 
ant, and the report contains a good account of its life history and in- 
juries. The Wheat-head Army-worm, the False Chinch-bug, and the 
injuriousBlister-beetles are also treated of. Prof. Osborn has alsosent 
in a report upon the Chinch Bug (which has been used by Mr. Howard 
in the general article on the subject), and a report upon observations 
on Hop insects in Wisconsin, which is reserved for future use, He has 
also continued to assist me in work on the parasites of domestic 
animals. 
Mr. Bruner’s report treats of the damage done by the Chinch Bug 
in Nebraska, of the condition of the migratory and non-migratory 
locusts or grasshoppers, and of other less important insects of the 
season. 
Mr, Webster, in addition to an extended report of his observations 
during the earlier part of the season on the Southern Buffalo-gnat, 
has submitted some other observations, which are here published. 
These refer in the main to corn-insects. 
These reports as a whole, together with the correspondence of the 
Division, indicate that, aside from the Chinch Bug and a very few 
local outbreaks of other species, the year has been one of compara- 
tive immunity from insect injuries. 
- The apicultural experiment station has been changed in location 
from Aurora, Ill., to Hinsdale, in the same State, the latter location 
possessing advantages in the way of convenience of transportation 
