365 



Grower of November 19, 1892, was highly recommended by several 

 experienced fruit growers at the State Fruit Growers' Convention at 

 San Jose, and it was stated that the Commissioners of Santa Cruz 

 County intend to use it extensively the coming season. 



WHY INSECTS INFEST PLANTS. 



Mr. John Saul, of Washington, D. C, read a paper before the Society 

 of American Florists at Washington last summer. He shows that any 

 check in the vitality of a given plant, either through unsuitable or un- 

 drained soil, too much or too little water, want of pure air or sunshine, 

 or one or more of many other causes, is followed by the attacks of in- 

 sects. He cites esijecially greenhouse plants which suffer from scale- 

 insects. He believes it possible to grow plants and crops of such 

 health and vigor that insects will not seriously damage them. Inter- 

 esting instances in support of this rather old, but none the less plausible, 

 and to a certain extent sound opinion are given ; but the author's idea 

 that the weakly condition of the plants generates the scale-insects is 

 of course totally unjustified. 



INSECT LEGISLATION IN MASSACHUSETTS. 



According to the Weiv England Farmer of April 22, the legislature of 

 Massachusetts has enacted a law relative to the " extermination " of 

 injurious insects. It is evident from the text, which we reproduce in 

 full, that the law is directed particularly against the Gypsy Moth and 

 Tent Caterpillar, although these insects are not specifically mentioned. 

 The following is a copy: 



.Section 1. Cities and towns shall raise annually by taxation and appropriate such 

 a sum of money as they may deem necessary, to be expended under tlie direction of 

 the mayor and aldermen in cities and the selectmen in towns, in exterminating in- 

 sect pests within the limits of the highways in their respective cities and towns, 

 and the removal from said highways of all trees and shrubs upon which such pests 

 naturally breed: Provided, however, That where the owner or lessee of real estate 

 abutting on the highwaj^ shall annually exterminate all insect pests from the trees 

 and shrubs along the highway where said real estate abuts thereon, such trees and 

 shrubs shall be exempt from the provisions of this act. 



Sec. 2. This act shall take effect in any city when accepted by the city council, 

 and in any town when accepted at a legal town meeting called for that purpose. 



BORERS IN Fia TREES. 



The New Orleans Times-Democrat is authority for the statement that 

 thousands of fig trees are being destroyed in the neighborhood of New 

 Orleans by " the flat- headed tree borer." The species effecting all this 

 damage is not known to us, but is possibly Pfychodes vittatus, a large 

 Longicorn, the larva of which is said to girdle the twigs of fig trees. 

 A number of remedies are recommended, but some sort of wash ap- 

 plied to the bark at the time that the female beetle deposits her eggs 

 will be the most efficient. Such a wash as is used to prevent the attacks 

 23123— No. 5 6 



