52 FIFTH ANNUAL KEPORT 



mer for June 1st, 1872, in which 7iine-tenths of all the apples set in 

 1871 are said to have been either totally lost or greatly damaged, he 

 suggests that the insect might be well-nigh exterminated, if, by 

 united effort, we could forego one year's crop, by knocking off all the 

 young fruit. He fails to attach sufficient importance to the fact that 

 the insect breeds in wild crabs, pears, peaches, and even plums. 



THE COLORADO POTATO BEETLE. 



One of the characteristic features of the past year was the com- 

 parative harmlessness of this insect. What with the increase of its 

 enemies, and the thinning out in its ranks which took place the pre- 

 vious year, it did comparatively little damage with us, though some- 

 what conspicuous early in the season in Phelps, Perry and other 

 counties. The decrease in its numbers seems, also, to have been very 

 general over our own country, as the newspapers were unusually free 

 from reports of its injuries. In Ontario, it has increased and spread^ 

 though not to the extent anticipated. 



NEW FOOD PLANTS . 



Mr. J. D. Putnam, of Davenport, Iowa, who was out colleoting in 

 Colorado during the summer, reports having found the larvas on 

 Stickseed {Echinospermum strictum)^ common Pigweed {Ama- 

 rantlius retroHexus)^ and a wild Sunflower {Helianthus peteolaris). 

 These plants belong to three distinct families, and Mr. Putnam be- 

 lieves that the larvee were feeding on them. 



ITS PROGRESS EASTWARD. 



In 1871, this insect had reached the western borders of Pennsyl- 

 vania and New York. Last year it extended into Cattaraugus county, 

 N. Y.," and obtained a foot-hold as far east as Lancaster county. Pa. 

 In July, my valued correspondent, Mr. S. S. Rathvon, informed me 

 that it had reached that county, and in the Lancaster ^VeeMy Express 

 for July Cth, he gave a long account of it, urging vigilance in its 

 destruction upon those who were being visited by it. From later 

 accounts, there were no insects to be seen after the middle of Sep- 



* Rural New Yorker lor Aug. 3rd and Aug. 17thj 1872. 



