270 



berry; this past summer it acted as if it was trouljled with leaf blight. I sprayed 

 four times with copper solutiou aud three times with Loudon purple, to no i)urpose; 

 also looked for Itorers, but found none, or any signs, except that the bark at the base 

 of the tree had turued black. I have just dug up the tree aud found twenty-seven of 

 these worms eating the roots.— [H. H. Gushee, Tennessee, November 7, 1891. 



Reply. — * * * The large grults which you send are the larv* of one of the 

 long-horned beetles known as Orthosoma hrnnneum. These insects are not very 

 abundant, and cases of damage to orchard trees are rare, so that you probably have 

 no reason to fear any great injury from them. — [November 12, 1891.] 



'Was it Diabrotica 12-punctata ? 



The following extract from a letter written by Mr. Charles Yancey, of Bucking- 

 ham, Va., dated March 8, 1828, and published in the American Farmer, Vol, 10. p. 3, 

 describes a depredator whose method of work seems quite similar to that of this 

 species. The writer was of the opinion that "the fly " deposited its eggs in the fall, 

 upon the stalks of Carrot weed and also on Hogweed. 



" Sir : I am much annoyed with a little white Avorm having a copper-colored head. 

 They perforate the stalks of young corn just below the surface of the ground, which 

 destroys its growth. The corn is not exempt from their depredations until it joints. 

 I have listed my corn lands, leaving the clover in the middle of the rows to supply 

 them with food. This is a palliative but not a remedy." 



For my own part I can not call to mind any insect except the larvie of Diabrotica 

 12-punctata, which answers this description both as to form, color, and method of 

 work.— [F. M. Webster, Ohio, December 28, 1891. 



The Clover-leaf Beetle in western Pennsylvania. 



Phytonomus punctatus. — If not known from some other source, it may be of interest 

 to state that this beetle has reached this part of Pennsylvania (Allegheny County), 

 though its depredations have not attracted the attention of agriculturists as yet. 

 Three years ago I saw specimens which were taken here aud in the adjoining county 

 of Westmorelaud ; this season, 1891, 1 took a few specimens in nearly every collecting 

 tour in June to July, and saw on the pavements of the city an occasional individual. 

 From the statements of collectors I learn it is now not uncommon in parts of West- 

 moreland County. — [John Hamilton, M. D., Pennsylvania, December 11, 1891. 



The Rice Weevil in dry Hop Yeast. 



I to-day had a sample of dry hop yeast sent me from Ocala, Fla., tilled with little 

 black bugs, that bore through the yeast and apparently feed upon it. 



I would like to have you identify them for me. What I would like to know is: 

 Are they iieculiar to the southern climate, or are they a bug that attacks yeast in the 

 northern latitudes ?—[F. B. Thurber, New York, October 19, 1891. 



Reply. — The 'Mittle black bugs " in dry hop yeast are specimens of the so-called 

 Rice Weevil, a cosmopolitan insect which feeds upon all stored farinaceous products 

 and upon drugs aud many other substances, seeming to prefer those which have a 

 vegetable origin. They are more liable to abound in southern climates, l)ut if they 

 once obtain a foothold in an establishment like yours in New York, they will be lia- 

 ble to do considerable damage. Their occurrence in dry yeast is not remarkable, 

 but so far as I know it has not been reported before.— [October 21, 1891.] 



How to kill Tree-borers. 



Quite a number of ways for destroying the larva? of various kinds that live in the 

 bark and sapwood of the apple aud other varieties of fruit trees, have lieen published, 

 but none of them are as good, in my judgment, as the way that I now recommend. 



