JVotcs and G/can/ngs. 107 



But few changes were made in the society's lists of apples or pears. A good 

 deal of complaint was made of most varieties of apples, growing out of their lack 

 of fairness. The codling moth was generally agreed to be less prevalent than 

 in former years ; but the " scab " was worse, and seems to have affected many 

 varieties hitherto exempt. Dr. Hull attributes this to a fungus, resulting from the 

 opening made for its attacks by the A J>/u's ma/i, the eggs of which were unusual- 

 ly abundant in the fall of 186S. This abundance of the Aphis mali he attributed 

 to the absence of the lady-bug, which had been destroyed, he thought, by the 

 soldier-beetle, the follower and destroyer of the Colorado potato-bug. Tabulated, 

 the result stands thus : — 



Colorado potato-bug results in soldier-beetle. 

 Soldier-beetle ..." "no lady-bugs. 

 No iadj-bugs ..." " aphis mali. 

 Aphis mali . . . . " " fungus growth. 



The theory is ingenious, and, though some facts go against it, may prove to be 

 correct. It is worth examining into, at least. 



The second day the cherry list was revised, and a very interesting paper on 

 the Curculio read by C. V. Riley, State Entomologist of Missouri. Mr. Riley 

 reviewed the agreed and controverted points concerning this mischievous insect, 

 and exhorted all good fruit growers to use the jarring and catching pracdces, as 

 well as to keep hogs in their orchards, so far as practicable. Mr. Barry, Dr. 

 Hull, and others seem to differ considerably in their ways and means of catching 

 and destroying this insect. Dr. Hull uses a large inverted umbrella, which he 

 trundles from tree to tree. This is figured in the American Entomologist. John 

 J. Thomas has sheets stretched upon light frames of wood. Ellwanger and 

 Barry have only the simple sheet laid down and gathered up at every tree. Dr. 

 Hull strikes the machine itself against the trunk of the tree to give the jar neces- 

 sary to disturb the curcuHo, whilst Thomas drives a spike into the tree, and Mr. 

 Barry saws off a limb up in the centre of the tree, against which they strike with 

 a hammer or mallet. Dr. Hull's process is the most rapid, probably, and the 

 others less injurious to the trees. Mr. Riley suggested that a spike made with a 

 shoulder, to prevent its penetrating the tree from repeated blows, as theoreti- 

 cally best. 



Mr. Barry, in the evening, read a paper on pears, that was listened to with 

 great attention, and generally commended for its straightforward statements and 

 practical common sense. Judge Brown, of Villa Ridge, near Cairo, added his 

 own experience with varieties, which was also a very sound, practical document. 



Officers were elected on the third day, after having divided the State into seven 

 Horticultural or Fruit Districts, according to mean temperature and rain fall, and 

 geological, botanical, and other differences. The following are the divisions, as 

 now constituted : — 



Northern. — District No. i. The Fox River District. — Comprehending 

 Boone, Cook, De Kalb, Du Page, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, La 

 Salle, McHenry, and Will, 12.— District No. 2. The Rock Ri7'cr District.— 

 Bureau, Carroll, Henry, Jo Daviess Lee, Ogle, Putnam, Rock Island, Stephen- 

 son, Whitesides, Winnebago, 11. Total, 23. 



