REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 247 



It has also the very great advantage of being perfectly safe, because, although so fatal to 

 all insects, it has no poisonous effect on man and the higher animals. 



The Colorado Potato-beetle {Doryphora 10-lineata, Say) seems to be, on the 

 whole, the most troublesome farm insect in the country. Prof. Panton, of Guelph, Ont., 

 expresses the same opinion in his report on answers received to the questions he had sent 

 out to the farmers of Ontario as to which were, in their experience, the insect pests most 

 injurious to farm crops. In most places, however, growers have generally adopted the 

 easy and cheap means of keeping it in check by spraying or sprinkling the potato plants 

 with Paris green mixed with water or some dry powder as a diluent. This remedy, when 

 applied with ordinary care, answers its purpose most effectively. 



"The potato-beetle was reported as numerous by some correspondents, while others 

 stated that it was not nearly so bad as usual." — Ontario Crop Report., Aug. IS. 



"Point de Bute, Westmoreland Co., N.B. — The potato-beetle did less damage this 

 season than last." — Howard Trueman. 



" Alberton, P.E.I. — The Colorado beetle came out of winter quarters later than usual 

 this spring and many were congratulating themselves that it would not show itself, but 

 it soon got to work, and if the potatoes were late in coming up, it stood right by, waiting 

 their arrival, utilizing the blades of grass for egg laying in the meantime. Good Paris 

 green saved the crop. Farmers have improved ways of ' greening ' now. As a general 

 thing, a cask on a cart or truck, provided with a sprinkler at each side, thus covering 

 quite a number of drills at a time, made the work light. The acreage under potatoes is 

 restricted now. A farmer seldom plants more than a couple of acres. They are low- 

 priced, and the bug has raised the cost of production. I really think, though, that this 

 bug is running its course." — Rev. A. E. Burke. 



"That great potato pest, the Colorado potato beetle, seems to be much less dreaded 

 than formerly. It seems to have been well kept in check by the use of Paris green, either 

 sprayed on the vines or dusted on after being mixed with gypsum or land plaster." — 

 Nova Scotia Crop Report, November. 



According to the notes from the different districts of Nova Scotia, contained in the 

 above crop report, the potato-beetle was particularly troublesome in the north-western 

 counties, but much less in the others, 



" Yarmouth, Yarmouth Co., N.S. — I have not yet seen a potato-beetle in my county. 

 A few have appeared in widely separated localities since 1893, when the first were 

 noticed, but this is the fourth year since, and there has not been at any time a marked 

 increase in serious injuries from them in this county." — Charles E. Brown. 



"Glace Bay, Cape Breton, N.S. — Insects this season did much less damage to 

 vegetation. Chief among them is the Colorado Potato-beetle, which made things pretty 

 lively for the farmers round my home. Some used Paris green, others hand-picked them. 

 The beetles do not seem, however, to be so numerous as at first." — James W. Edwards. 



" Upper Baddeck, Victoria Co., N.S.— The potato bugs were very plentiful. I did 

 not learn that any in this district used Paris green, as they are somewhat afraid of its 

 poisonous effects. We, however, find that if we commence early, when the beetles first 

 show themselves, to spray the fields carefully three or four times in as many weeks, it 

 leaves them powerless to do much injury when the vines get strong." — Allan McMillan. 



"Berwick, King's Co., N.S.— The" potato bug has become so general that it is taken 

 quite as a matter of course, and the farmer expects to use Paris green quite as much as he 

 expects to plant his seed." — S. C. Parker. 



Cut-worm injuries in garden and field crops have this year been frequently reported. 

 The most severe depredations were committed in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and in 

 Alberta District ; strange to say too, it was by the same species the Red-backed Cut- 

 worm (Carneades ochrogaster, Gn.). It is seldom that correspondents trouble to send in 

 cut-worms, but when this was done, in almost every instance, the species was found to 

 be the above which gave trouble during the spring of 1896. Although there are so 

 many different species of cut-worms, their general habits are now so well known that a 

 wide-awake gardener or farmer can by prompt attention and a little trouble, as a rule, 



