92 TRANSACTIONS OP THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



animal and vegetable life has been prettj' thoroughly ventilated, and that 

 there is a mass of evidence to show that the moon has no influence what- 

 ever. Numerous careful observations have been made, all of which go to 

 prove that the effect upon a crop planted at any particular period of the 

 moon, is just the same as commencing a journey, voyage, or piece of 

 work, on Friday; the result in both cases, is all in the imagination. 



John G. Bergen — Many years ago my father determined to thoroughly 

 test this moon theory, then so prevalent among the old Knickerbocker 

 people in this vicinity, and he planted, sowed, and did everj'thing that he 

 could in exact accordance with the moon theorists, and exactly the reverse, 

 and finally became fully convinced that the theory of the moon's influence 

 could not be sustained. I believe that the same result has been arrived at 

 by every careful inquirer after truth, uninfluenced by preconceived 

 opinions. 



Remedy for Striped Melon Bugs. 



A lad}^ who writes from Farmeisville, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., says: 



"Place lime in an unbroken circle around the hills, the first fair weather 

 after they are up ; it will prove an effectual barricade, unless your bugs 

 are braver than those of Cattaraugus." 



Another person says : 



" I procured dust from the smut machine of a flouring mill, and when 

 the striped bugs attacked my vine, this dust was sprinkled freely on the 

 hills as an experiment. It was a perfect success. The bugs seceded at 

 once. It requires renewing only when rains wash it off'." 



A member read an article suggesting a coop of chickens to keep off 

 bugs. Place the coop in the melon patch, to hold the hen, letting the 

 chickens run at large. 



The Rev. Mr. Weaver, of Fordham, said that he had tried that plan, but 

 it was not effectual. Soot, or any dust, does good if you take pains to put 

 it on the under side of the leaves, as well as on top ; but the best remedy 

 is to kill the bugs with your fingers. 



John G. Bergen — On Long Island we use dust upon melon vines, and 

 also for turnips and cabbage. The more you can disturb the bugs the 

 better. I once dusted with yellow snuff. I thought that would make the 

 bugs sneeze, and disgust them so that they would leave; but as I found 

 the first dose did not, I renewed it, and succeeded — not in killing the bugs, 

 but the plants. 



Adrian Bergen, of Long Island, said that he found dry ashes and lime, 

 mixed and put on the wet plants, an eff'ectual barrier to bugs. 



Mr. Carpenter said that he preferred plaster, put on after every shower, 



Mr. Nathan C. Ely — In Connecticut we find the plan of using boxes 

 around the hills the cheapest and best remedy for striped bugs ever 

 devised. 



Fruit-Tree Insects. 



Wm. McM. Lowman, of Darlington, Montgomery county, Ind., writes : 

 " I have a Duchess d'Angouleme dwarf peai--tree which seems to be 

 troubled with small black ants working at the buds and blossoms, which 



