121 



order to see whether they lay their eggs upon the fruit. This insect injures oranges in 

 other countries in much the same way as does the Morelos Orange Frnit-worni (7Vi/- 

 peia luderis) in Mexico. I think that I sent yon a copy of Dr. Riley's account of tLia 

 latter insect. The eggs are laid on or thrust into the skin of the orange and the larvae 

 burrow into the pulp of the fruit. I should be glad to receive specimens of the mag- 

 gots which infest the Surinam cherries, and hope that you will examine the Mangoes 

 to see whether they are not also infested. The possible infesting of these fruits as 

 well as the Citrus fruits by this Ceratiiis is very important, as yon will readily see, 

 from the stand-point of any remedial work which has to be done upon the Ceratitis 

 injuring peaches. 



Tiie rust upon your oranges is probably produced by the Rust Mite {Phijtoptus olei- 

 voriis) and is remedied in Florida by applications of sulphur mixed with lime in the 

 process of slaking and afterwards sprayed in a watery solution. The dying of your 

 trees is probably due to the disease known in Florida as the "Die Back," which is 

 caused by a fungus. This disease yields to treatment with carbolic or creosote 

 washes provided the existing cause is removed, and this latter has been variously 

 ascribed to overfertilization, deep planting, and imperfect drainage. — [August 19, 

 1890.] 



The New Mexican Epilachna.. 



I notice on page 376 of Insect Life, Vol. ii, for May and June, 1890, that the Epi- 

 lachna corrupta, which I trust will continue to be known vulgarly as the New Mexi- 

 can Bean-bug or New Mexican bean-eating Lady-bird — for I have not been able to 

 learn that it feeds upon any other plant except those of the Phaseolus family — is also 

 found in Colorado. From this 1 infer that the so-called arid region of the Rocky 

 Mountains is its native hahitat. But I also venture to foretell that if it should ever 

 chance to spread further east, it will prove as destructive to the bean there as the 

 Doryphora decemlineata once proved to the potato. You suggest Paris green as a 

 remedy, and it may therefore be interesting to you to know that I have tried its ap- 

 pliance, and to learn how it resulted. I may say that it effected a radical cure. It 

 killed not only the insects, but also a great part of the vines (especially those of the 

 wax-pod varieties, which appear more delicate), and utterly ruined several rows of 

 new varieties, such as the Yosemite Mammoth, Dwarf Lima, Bush Bean, Flageolet 

 Wax, Lilack-eyed Wax, etc., which I had obtained from New York at considerable 

 expense for trial in our soil and climate. The green-pod sorts resisted better, espe- 

 cially the "Emperor William, "asplendid large-podded variety with pure white- colored 

 seed, which deserves to be planted extensively, both as a stiing and shell bean. 

 The only bean plants that escaped entirely unscathed under the Paris-green treat- 

 ment, among some fifteen sorts grown in rows side by side for experimental purposes, 

 were the native frijoles, which remained entirely unaffected by the corrosive action of 

 the arsenious poison. The row of these Mexican beans now stands in the garden, still 

 growing in wonderful exuberance, and covered with an immense profusion of pods, 

 some of these already ripening, while of the other beans probably not over one-fourth 

 are alive. I would therefore advise great care in the use of arsenical compounds with 

 beans, as it appears to corrode and burn both the leaves and stalks. The solution 

 used was at the rate of 1 pound to 100 gallons of water and was applied about three 

 weeks ago, once. On account of its great rusticity and wonderful productiveness and 

 hardiness the Mexican frijole seems to me to be deserving of a trial in the ' ' States," espe- 

 cially for field culture. It is of all shades of color when shelled, but the appearance of 

 the plants show no difference in growth. It makes a larger bush than the sorts cul- 

 tivated in the States, inclined to run somewhat, although it requires no poles. On 

 account of its remarkable vigor, it suffers less from the atttacks ot the bug than the 

 more delicate aud tender sorls raised in the States, and also stands late spring frosts 

 which would kill the others. Used dry it }s much more delicately flavored than tbe 

 white navy bean so much cherished bythepeopleof the" Hub,"ratherresemblingti)e 

 Lima bean in delicacy of taste. But it has one drawback, it has a brownish a;. pear- 



