FUNGOID DISEASES VS. COTTON-WORMS. 217 



European sparrow feeding extensively on insects, some planters believe 

 that it would make a strong enemy of the caterpillar if introduced ; but 

 from what I know of its nature, and from what others who have studied 

 its habits tell me, I believe it impracticable to make it remain on a plan- 

 tation, and, even if this could be accomplished, its grauivorous and 

 quarrelsome propensities would make -it a pest that the farmers would 

 be only too glad to get rid of. All native insectivorous birds should be 

 protected by law, and under no circumstances should one of them be 

 killed or its nest disturbed. 



Under the head of natural remedies belonging to the vegetable king- 

 dom, I would place any fungi or molds that may be utilized for the 

 destruction of Aletia in any of its forms, if such there be. In the latter 

 part of July a copy of an article by Dr. Hagen on the use of fungi to 

 destroy noxious insects, from the Canadian Entomologist, vol. xi, p. 110, 

 was sent me from the department with instruction to test the matter 

 carefully. I have not the article before me now, but from the belief of 

 some mycologists that the fungus of the house-fly, the torulae of yeast 

 or beer, and the common mold are forms of one and the same species, 

 it was recommended that the insects to be destroyed should be showered 

 with dilute yeast, from which would be developed a fungus parasitic on 

 the insects. And, whether the identity of the fungi mentioned were 

 real or not, it was stated that the Continental mycologist, Dr. Bail, had 

 demonstrated that yeast or beer torulae sown on insects gave rise to some 

 fungus which caused their death. 



On the strength of this statement, and knowing that different species 

 of insects sometimes die in large numbers from fungoid diseases, I tried 

 the following experiments with yeast, with the results given. It should 

 be stated that care was taken in every instance to see that the yeast 

 was in an active state. 



August 1, during a light shower, I applied a gallon of yeast in eight 

 gallons of water to cotton, on which there were many half-grown cater- 

 pillars, as well as numbers of small ones, using a fountain-pump for dis- 

 tributing the liquid, and being careful to reach all parts of the cotton 

 with it, wetting it, indeed, so thoroughly that the air for some distance 

 was pervaded by a yeasty odor. Before I had finished the shower be- 

 came heavier, and it rained hard for a considerable part of the .night. 

 There was more or less rain nearly every day for the succeeding week. 

 Examination every few days showed that no fungus was attacking the 

 worms. 



August 7, I applied several gallons of water, in which was yeast in 

 proportions varying from one-half pint to one quart to the gallon of 

 water. This was applied in the morning while the sun was shining 

 brightly, and no rain fell on it until night, though more or less rain fell 

 every day for the next half week. There were worms of all sizes where 

 this was used, but none were attacked by disease. 



August 13, more was applied iu varying quantities of water, the day 

 being cloudy, but only negative results were obtained. 



