79 



The territory occupied by the pest is much greater than was at first 

 supposed, and extermination appears almost impossible. There has 

 been no lack of energy in the prosecution of the work, but the whole 

 matter needs scientific supervision in order that this energy shall not 

 be wasted. 



HOT WATER FOR THE PEACH BORER. 



The Prairie Farmer for July 5, 1890, quotes a number of experiments 

 in favor of this remedy. The balance of evidence seems to show that 

 hot water will kill the borers around the crown and will not injure the 

 trees ; but this only corroborates a fact that has been the commou pos- 

 session of intelligent peach-growers for decades. 



PYRETHRUM IN AUSTRALIA AND SOUTH AFRICA. 



We learn from the Agricultural Journal (Cape Colony) of June 5, 

 1890, that a Mr. Kleesattel has 6 acres of Pyrethrum under cultivation 

 in Victoria, which has begun to yield a return. The seed is sown in 

 beds in the month of August and the following winter the young plants 

 are put out in rows 2 feet 6 inches apart with 1 foot between the 

 plants. The plants bloom from November to January, fifteen months 

 after the sowing of the seed. The plant is perennial and the crops last 

 for several years. 



In 1872 Mr. J. B. Hellier planted some seed at Graham's Town, South 

 Africa, which grew well, and it is interesting to know that without cul- 

 tivation and in the same locality the plants are still to be found, so that 

 it practically grows wild. He distributed also in 1872 small quantities 

 of the seeds to other localities, and in each ])la('e the ex{)erieuce has 

 been the same. Mr. Perks, near King William's Town, has grown it and 

 has manufactured bis own insect-powder for the past six years. Under 

 these favorable conditions Mr. Hellier urges that the plant be grown 

 extensively, not only for home consumption, but also as a future article 

 of export. 



THE YELLOW HAMMER AND THE CODLING MOTH. 



Mr. A. P. Martin, of Petaluma, Cal., writing to the Pacific Rural Press 

 of June 27, 1890, states that in looking over his orchard last spring and 

 examining all crevices and bark of the trees for Codling Moth larvae he 

 failed to find any where there were thousands last fall. He discovered 

 plenty of cocoons, but in every case the former occupant was absent. It 

 was too early for transformation to have taken place and he found small 

 holes in the bark-scales which had been made by some bird. His belief 

 is that the good work was done by a bird whose scientific name he does 

 not know, but which is variously called the "Yellow Hammer," 

 •'Flicker,'' or "High Hole" and which Dr. Merriam informs us is, in 

 California, Colaptescafer. During tlie early spring months Mr. Martin 

 states that they were to be seen by hundreds in his orchard, industri- 



