361 



We would call his attention to the fact that the mere showing of the 

 original paired character of the organ previously known as the labium 

 is by no means an argument in favor of its galear homology, as would 

 be inferred from his statement on page 338, since the labium is in reality 

 typically a paired organ. The author refers in the foot-note upon page 

 324 to our figure of the head of Simulium in the report for 1886 as very 

 accurate and as showing the mandibles properly. "But," he adds, " the 

 meaning of the structure was not recognized by either author or artist." 

 This last is a i)ure assumption, and the stricture is not justified because 

 the article accompanying the figure was purely economic and specific, 

 and in no way raised or discussed the question of oral homologies. We 

 might, with just as much relevance, follow a reference to his figure of 

 Aphidius, on page 10 of his Bulletin No. 72, with the assertion that 

 Professor Smith does not understand the homologies of the thoracic 

 sclerites. 



Insecticide Experiments in New Jersey.'— In this 34-page bulletin Pro- 

 fessor Smith has recorded his experience with different insecticides dur- 

 ing the year 1890. Such records of actual experience are always inter- 

 esting and frequently of great value, even when the results are negative 

 in their character. The author devotes some space to generalizations 

 and accounts of the best machinery, and then considers the following 

 insecticides: Arseuites, potash salts, tobacco, naphthaline, fish-oil soaps 

 kerosene emulsion, Paris green, lime, white hellebore, tar water, gas 

 tar, carbonate of lime, Eureka insecticide, and sludge-oil soap. He 

 recommends a combination of London purple with Bordeaux mixture 

 where both fungicide and insecticide effects are wanted and states that 

 the lime in the Bordeaux mixture is sufficient to neutralize any burning 

 effect of the purple. (Compare with this Mr. Maynard's results below.) 

 He recommends the use of potash salts, preferably kainit, against Cut- 

 worms and Wire-worms in corn. 



The tobacco experiments were effectual against Flea-beetles and Rose 

 Aphides. The tobacco preparation known as X. O. Dust killed Leaf- 

 beetle larvae and Cabbage Worms. It does not affect hairy larvte or 

 hard-shelled insects. The addition of enough carbolic acid to moisten 

 and discolor tobacco powders increases their efficiency 50 per cent. 

 Under this head the entirely erroneous statement is made that X. O. 

 Dust has been said by Mr. Howard to be a specific for the Potato Flea- 

 beetle. Mr. Howard has never made this statement, nor has he exper- 

 imented with this substance upon this insect. Fish-oil soap solutions 

 were found very efficacious against Plant-lice whenever these could be 

 reached. The difficulty was one of application simply. Kerosene 

 emulsion, made according to the Hubbard formula, killed the Cottony 



* Insecticides and how to apply them. Experiment Record for 1890, by John B. 

 Smith. New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin 75, November 7, 1H90. 



