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Second letter. — In reply to yours of the 30th nit. in relation to the Hay Worm, 

 I will say that there was no clover stacked near the timothy hay, nor had there ever 

 been. The hay will inspect pure timotby, although there is a stalk of red clover 

 scattered here and there in the meadow. I have fed attacked hay to all kinds of 

 stock and have seen no ill results. — [December 22, 1888. 



A Rose-bud Cecidomyia. 



I take the liberty of forwarding to you for inspection an insect which has made 

 its appearance in a neighbor's rose-houses, and completely destroys all his buds. You 

 will find, on close inspection, a little maggot-like worm close under the bnd in all the 

 young shoots I send you. As it is nob known to me or any other rose grower I have 

 shown it to, I would like to hear your opinion of it, if not asking too much. Also if 

 you know anything in the way of remedies for it. — [Ernst Asmus, West Hoboken, 

 N. J., September 29, 1886. 



Reply. — * * * This injury appears to be, so far as I know, entirely unprece- 

 dented. The insect is the larva of one of the gall midgvs of the genus Cecidomyia, 

 but no insect of this kind has ever been recorded as feeding in this manner. It there- 

 fore becomes of great interest and importance to work this insect up thoroughly, and 

 as a preliminary step I would urge you to send at once to the Department as many of 

 the injured buds with the larvsB as you can find. In addition to this, it would be a 

 good plan to cover with gauze one of the plants, so as to catch the little midge when 

 it issues from the ground. — [October 1, 1886.] 



Second letter. — * * * The maggot Cecidomyia has made its appearance in 

 two different florists' establishments this fall in my neighborhood, if I have been 

 rightly informed, in both cases having destroyed the whole crop [of roses]. They 

 seem to appear in the fall only, as I have not heard of any later. * * * — [January 

 18, 1889. 



Beetles infesting Yeast Cakes. 



I send in this mail a box of yeast cakes that are infested. Will you kindly send me 

 the name or names of the animals? They appear in the boxes of yeast during the 

 mouths of August and September, and do not trouble us much at any other time. The 

 boxes in which they are put up are covered with a paper label, seemingly in such a 

 way that no insect could get in. Is it possible that the egg is hatched in the meal, 

 and that the insect develops in the yeast? Apparently the only way to get rid of 

 them is to prevent their developing in the boxes. Can you suggest auy preventive 

 that might be placed in the box which would make a part of the composition of the 

 box itself? The boxes used are like the one I send you. Could oil of cedar be used f 

 * * * In the process of making the meal is raised to Ji,bout90'^ F. Would this kill 

 the eggs?— [W. K. Higley, College of Pharmacy, Chicago, 111., October 4, 1888. 



Reply. — * * * Your yeast cakes were infested by Silvamts surinamensis and Zre- 

 mophlwus pusillus, two insects which are very general feeders and very common in 

 drug stores, feeding upon all sorts of medicinal roots, barks, herbs, and powders. 

 Both species also feed upon meal and flour. The box which you sent was not at all 

 tight, and it would be very easy for the beetles to work their way under the cover. If 

 the label is securely pasted on and completely encircles the box the insects can not 

 enter without piercing the paper, which they will not be ajitto do. If the eggs or any 

 young larvte were contained in the meal they would probably not be destroyed by a 

 heat of 90° F. An easy way to kill them would be to subject them before use to a 

 heat of 110°, and then the only protection necessary after this course is taken will be 

 to pay particular attention to and secure gumming of the label around the edges of 

 the cover. * * "—[October 7, 1886. 



