427 



to study and collect the natural enemies of injurious California insects, 

 particularly the Eed Scale, was passed with very little opposition. 



HOME-GROWN PYRETHRUM IN CAPE COLONY. 



The following notes on this subject have been sent to me by Mr. Wil- 

 son, nurseryman and gardener, at Waterford, the estate of the late Mr. 

 Irvine: 



The Dalmatian Pyrethriira I had from you is not half sufficiently well known, or 

 everybody rearing cabbage and cauliflower plants would most certainly not be with- 

 out it. I find it the best thing I ever had through my fingers for young plants in 

 seed beds when attacked by the Cabbage Aphis, or as it is commonly called, Cabbage 

 Louse. When the flowers are gathered, dry them quickly, and then rub them down 

 very fine. Bottle up the powder and cork it well to exclude the air and keep in the 

 strength. Use one part of the powder to ten times its measure of fine flour. I find 

 this sufficiently strong, if well mixed together. Dredge the infested plants through 

 a piece of fine netting. The Aphis disappears at once, and very seldom it has to be 

 used a second time on the same plants. It should be applied early in the morning, 

 ■while the dew is on the plants, or the plants may be damped with a syringe or the 

 fine nose of a watering pot. There is also a good deal of strength in the leaves for 

 this purpose, and I propose to increase my stock largely this season. 



There is little reason to doubt that this mixture of pyrethrum pow- 

 der and flour would clear an orange tree of the black Aphis, and most 

 likely of the scale too. In Portugal Chamomile is grown under or 

 among the orange trees as a preventive against insect pests. Any 

 one may easily try the effect of the Persian insect-powder, and if found 

 to be effective, possibly some day we may have colonial-grown pyre- 

 thrum powder plentiful enough to dust over orange trees and other 

 insect infested trees, in a way which shall rid them of all the insect 

 pests which now so constantly infest them.— [J. B. Hellier,in the Agri- 

 cultural Journal, November 13, 1890. 



POPULAR LECTURES ON INSECTS. 



We notice by the Birmingham Daily Post that our valued corre- 

 spondent, Mr. F. Enock, has begun popularizing entomological knowl- 

 edge by a series of lectures. The most flattering account is given of 

 the one upon the Hessian Fly, which was illustrated by the aid of lan- 

 tern views of some of Mr. Enock's wonderful microscopic preparations. 

 As a preparator of objects of this kind Mr. Enock has few equals, and 

 we consider ourselves fortunate to possess a number of his best mounts. 

 He is well fitted for the work which he has undertaken. 



JOURNALISTIC ENTERPRISE. 



Mr. William H. Edwards, of Coalburgh, West Virginia, sends us the 

 following: 



In the Christian Union for the 12th instant, which I have just been reading, on 

 p. 335 is a statement that some one " in Arizona captured a butterfly which he sent to 

 the Smithsonian. In a few days he received a cheque for $1,500 {sic) with the request 



