1878.] REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 45 



" skin of the chrysalis. They remain in this state until the next Jan- 

 " uary or February, when they emerge as whitish, soft beetles, but in 

 " a few days become hard and of their mature color. They still, how- 

 " ever, remain underground until the middle of April or May, when 

 " they dig their way to the surface with the aid of their strong fore-legs. 

 '• The perfect insects do not live more than ten or twelve days ; their 

 " flight is usually slow and awkward, and they seem to be unable to 

 " prevent themselves flying against anything in their way. They sel- 

 '' dom fly about till evening, resting on the branches and under the 

 "leaves of trees during the daytime." 



A pleasant companion, truly, for all of us who have ought to do with 

 the cultivation of the earth. Now pursuing his invisible work of de- 

 struction beneath the surface of the smoothly-shaven lawn ; and again 

 burying himself so deep as to be beyond the reach of a subsoil plough. 

 Yet need we not mourn as those without hope. The peril is imminent: 

 far worse than is realized by the careless or unthinking multitude. 

 Many a waste spot in those neatly kept plats of grass, rendered possible 

 in this country by the recent invention of the Lawn Mower ; many u 

 drooping half-dead shrub in garden or park, owe their barrenness or 

 loss of vitality to the unsuspected ravage of this Insect. The marks of 

 their presence are sadly evident around Webster Square, in this City ; 

 and Elm Park offers palpable traces of their visitation. They are om- 

 nipresent : — are they immortal? Mention has been made, already, of 

 the useful application of water in a given proportion of the Ammonia- 

 cal liquor that is a cheap residuum from the manufacture of Gas. But 

 it has been reserved for American Science to discover a simple and 

 effective method of arresting the career of the voracious Melolontha. 

 And, as it is a method requiring no technical skill for its employment. 

 I recite it here for your instruction and benefit, — premising, as an act 

 of justice to the Avierican Agriculturist, that it was originally recom- 

 mended by one of its correspondents. At first, then, you are to hang 

 up in a tree, one or more wide-mouthed bottles. Quite a number of 

 the beetles will be captured in a single night. From those captives, to 

 use the precise language of the writier, you will proceed to " excision 

 " of the prothorax and removal of the elytra." I am not prepared to 

 affirm that the next and final step in the operation will not demand a 

 careful manipulation whereof 3'ou may not all be capable. Yet my' 

 faith in the ability of the Members of this Society is extrfeme. Nor 

 will I trifle with your curiosity which, is now so highly aroused. You are 



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