114 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



mented upon. This preparation, which is well known to coun- 

 teract decay, is not only cheap, but could be applied by means 

 of watering-pots or garden spouts at little expense, the bleaching 

 power of the chlorine in the combination with lime in a suffi- 

 ciently diluted state, being hardly to be feared. 



LABELS FOR FRUIT TREES. 



Prof. Mapes. — Take two pieces of w^ood, hinged together with a 

 leaden wire, with the name between the two. The lead wire is 

 preferable to all others. The cost is not over fifty cents a hun- 

 dred. Zinc labels, written over with a lead pencil, makes a 

 durable label. If written upon with any acid ink, it will eat the 

 name into the zinc. 



THE LOCUST. 



Prof. Mapes stated, that in plowing upon his farm, near New- 

 ark, on Saturday, the seventeen-year locusts were turned up in 

 vast quantities. 



Dr. Trimble stated that this insect does not consume vegeta- 

 tion. They are within a few inches of the surface, waiting for 

 the right condition of the temperature to issue forth. Seventeen 

 years ago these insects came forth on the 25th of May, and 

 immediately commenced their musical notes. They remain about 

 six weeks above ground, eating nothing. The injury they do 

 vegetation is by puncturing the limbs to deposit their eggs; this 

 kills the ends of the branches. The apple tree and elm trees 

 are favorite trees with these seventeen-year locusts. The time 

 of their appearance varies in different localities. This is the 

 year for all this vicinity and up the Hudson river. My opinion 

 is that the life of the insect is sustained under ground by attach- 

 ing to the roots of plants. The limb selected for puncture is 

 always small. 



Prof. Mapes thought that these fellows would be a little too 

 much for " insect powder." Still he had received great benefit 

 from one called the " Persian powder." That will enable me to 

 grow early turnips, and it will kill caterpillars. 



Mr. Gale — In 1809, in Orange county, the locusts were plenti- 

 ful enough to allow me to gather bushels of them, and the apple 

 trees were covered. The only injury was to the small twigs. 

 Wheat fields were covered, but not injured. 



Andrew S. Fuller — In 1855 the locusts were very abundant in 

 Illinois, and came forth out of heavy clay land, from more than 



