1896.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 27 1 



vations quite prove his case. In the matter of the spread of the insect it 

 has invaded new parts of Albany and has extended north of Troy for 

 some distance. There is no doubt that at Albany there are two distinct 

 broods of the insect. 



Mr. Smith stated that his observations and conclusions rather agreed 

 with those of Mr. Howard, and as to the number of broods he had re- 

 peated his observations at New Brunswick during the present year and 

 can find only a single brood. In fact, weather conditions were such that 

 •even this brood was small, and did less damage than usual, while very 

 few of the larvae that changed to pupae ever changed to beetles; much 

 the greatest number of pupse were killed by cold, wet weather. The in- 

 <iication seemed to be that there will be a small number in New Bruns- 

 wick next year. Concerning the fish oil soaps had much the same expe- 

 rience as that recorded by Mr. Marlatt, and one of the most discouraging 

 features of the fight against the San Jos^ scale was the fact that the soaps 

 used did not seem to be effective even when thoroughly applied. The 

 reason for that was that most of the fish oil soap was very inferior and 

 much of it probably did not contain fish oil at all. For that reason he 

 has rather urged the farmers to make their own soaps, and has given a 

 formula that has proved successful in actual practice. He had also used 

 the Leggett soap in experimenting and had found it entirely reliable and 

 satisfactory. In one case where some young trees were treated with it 

 for the San Jose scale, he had received word from the owner of the or- 

 chard within a few days that no trace of the scale was to be found upon 

 the trees this season. 



Referring to some suggestions that had been made as to the dislike of 

 insects to feed upon poisoned foliage he had found this to be true of the 

 Elm Leaf Beetle, and the slow action of some of the poisons may be ex- 

 plained by the fact that the insects do not eat until they are forced to. 

 Mr. Kirkland said that he had not noticed that the larvae of the Gypsy 

 moth hesitated about eating poisoned foliage. No choice seemed to be 

 exercised. In some experiments the poisoned foliage was eaten in pref- 

 erence to that which was not poisoned, while in other experiments the 

 reverse was the case. Where alternate leaves were poisoned it was usual 

 to have them all eaten equally; so where parts of the leaf only were 

 poisoned all parts of the leaf would be equally eaten. Mr. Johnson iiad 

 observed of some insects that they refused to feed for some time upon 

 poisoned foliage. Mr. Webster had found that the Bordeaux mixture 

 was useful in keeping off the blister beetles, species of Epicaula, and 

 referring to what had been said of injuries caused by insecticidts. he 

 stated that this was a matter that would have to be rather closely studied 

 in every locality. One farmer in Ohio had twice applied pure kerosene 

 to his trees to kill the San Jos^ scale. The treatment was entirely effec- 

 tive, and the trees during the present Summer are in fine condition. The 

 application on the trees was made in December or January, and again in 

 March. He had expected that the trees would be killed and had warned 



