176 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



3-4 EDWARD VII., A. 1904 



the others were perfectly fertile. The first culture was mixed in sugar and water and 

 was left in a warm place, as directed, until it showed signs of growth, when it was put 

 out as follows: (1) Scattered among the grass infested by locusts ; (2) locusts were 

 caught and dipped in it ; (3) it was put on pieces of horse droppings, bran and other 

 attractive food, the weather at the time being very dry. Locusts after being dipped 

 in the culture were kept in a large box for some days, but showed no signs of being 

 any the worse for their treatment. The second culture was put out on the evening 

 of July 22, during damp and rainy weather, though rather cold. It was spread among 

 the locusts in the same way as the first. Two locusts were found dead, possibly as a 

 result of this, three days after it had been put out. 



The third lot of fungus was put out on July 15, in the evening when considerable 

 dew had fallen. No results were observed. Another lot was put out on the 16th, 

 This was mixed in bread crumbs, some of which was eaten by locusts; but no dead in- 

 sects were found. During the time several locusts were found which had been killed 

 by the native fungous disease in spots widely removed from one another and at long 

 distances from where the experiments were being conducted, showing that the weather 

 conditions were at least fairly favourable for this work, and also that this disease is 

 probably always present and makes its appearance as soon as the conditions are favour- 

 able. The last lot of fungus was put out on August 2 in the same way as the first. 



ISTo results were noticed. — Norman Criddle. 



Referring to the above statement that cattle have been poisoned by the Criddle 

 mixture, it need hardly be pointed out that, with this remedy as with every other in 

 which an active poison is used- at any rate ordinary and reasonable precautions must 

 be taken to prevent stock of all kinds from eating the material. It is well known that 

 homed stock will, if allowed to do so, eat the bedding from a horse stable, but this can 

 hardly be recommended as a good food for the production of milk, and the practice 

 should be prevented. If the Criddle mixture is distributed in the manner recom- 

 mended, that is, for the material to be scattered loosely through the plants at the 

 edge of a field of standing grain, it can hardly be said that there is any danger. One 

 instance came to my knowledge of a man in Manitoba who had mixed half a barrel of 

 the Criddle mixture, part of which he did not use. The half barrel containing this 

 was put in his barn and left there till threshing time, when, to make room, it was 

 turned out into his yard where he had some cows. Some of these ate the poisoned 

 material and died from its effects, but this instance of carelessness can hardly be cited 

 as a reason for not using this most useful remedy against grasshoppers. If it is, it 

 means that the use of active poisons such as Paris green and many other compounds 

 now thought to be necessary to the fruit-grower and farmer, and the whole operation 

 of spraying, would have to be condemned. On occasions when farmers have been using 

 the Criddle mixture, which is in every way the cheapest effective remedy for grass- 

 hoppers which I have ever tried, if there is any of the material left over, it should be 

 scattered loosely over a piece of land where its fertilizing effects may be secured and 

 where there will be no danger of poisoning animals. 



The only other place in Canada where grasshoppers were noticed in numbers was 

 in the Okanagan valley of British Columbia. Mr. E. P. Venables, of Vernon, writes : 

 * Grasshoppers were numerous at some places, and, although no appreciable damage was 

 done, some people are anxious lest there may be a repetition of the plague of three years 

 ago. Some of their enemies, however, were in evidence to an equal extent with the 

 grasshoppei-s. Among these, the Spotted Gray Blister-beetle (Epicauta maculata, Say^ 

 was very abundant, feeding upon wild plants. Therefore, it is to be hoped that their 

 larvae will help, if they keep up their good name for destroying the eggs of grass- 

 hoppers.' 



The Criddle mixture, as modified in accordance with the latest experiments, con- 

 sists of one part of Paris green, mixed thoroughly in 100 of fresh horse droppings, to 

 which two pounds of salt per half barrel of mixture have been added, after being dis- 



