OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



73 



form a sort of invitation barrier to the lice, wliich are continually- 

 spreading from the dying vines, and great numbers settle on to the 

 layer rootlets, and may easily be detached from the main stocks and 

 destroyed. This can never be more than a j)artial barrier ; but every 

 practicable and intelligent means of combating such an enemy helps* 

 By splitting the ends of the layers or cuttings, Ihey produce a great 

 number of minute fibres, which are especially attractive to the lice. 



My own experiments have been solely with carbolic acid, and the 

 results can only be fully ascertained the forthcoming season. It is 

 perfectly impracticable to use the liquid solution on our hills and 

 bluffs, upon which water can be carried only at great cost and effort; 

 and, at my suggestion, G. Mallinckrodt & Co., of St. Louis, have pre- 

 pared a cheap powder, which, in quantities in barrels or casks, they 

 sell for 5 cents per pound. I found this quite convenient, and have 

 treated a number of vines with it, in varied quantities, at Kirkwood 

 and Bush burg. 



The following letter, received March 7th, 1S73, from Mr. F. A. 

 Brewer, of Chillicothe, bears on this subject and is suggestive: 



"Having been interested in your writings on Phylloxera, and not 

 understanding the bad condition of my Catawbas, I examined them in 

 the spring of 1872, and found the excrescences on the roots and dead- 

 ened portions, as you describe. This left no doubt in my mind that 

 the lice had been at work. So I opened the ground, exposin c a goodly 

 portion of the roots, and thickly sprinkled leached ashes and a little 

 sulphur over the parts exposed, and replaced the dirt. I cut away all 

 dead wood, and the sprouts from the trunk look well, and I think will 

 produce me a fair crop this year. Will report to you this fall again." 



THE OYSTER-SHELL BARK-LOUSE OF THE AFFLE—3li/tilas- 



pis poviicorticis N. Sp. 



Since the 

 publication 

 of the article 

 on this insect 

 in my first 

 Report, seve- 

 ral interest- 

 ing and im- 

 portant facts 

 in its econ- 

 omy have 

 been reveal- 

 I am now able to give a much clearer insight into the life-his- 



