292 



THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



pest recommended by European writers is 

 to jar the larvae down onto sheets and then 

 in one way or another to destroy them. 

 This may answer for young trees but is 

 then tedious and but partial. We found 

 that the quickest and most satisfactory 

 way of destroying the insect and protect- 

 ing the trees was by the use of Paris 

 Green and water in the manner frequently 

 recommended in these columns, and Lon- 

 don Purple will evidently prove just as ef- 

 fectual and cheaper. The syringing can- 

 not be done from the ground except on 

 very young trees, though a good fountain 

 pump will throw a spray nearly thirty feet 

 high. Larger trees will have to be ascen- 

 ded by means of a ladder and the liquid 

 sprinkled or atomized through one of the 

 portable atomizers, like Peck's, which is 

 fastened to the body and contains three 

 gallons of the liquid. 



The mode of pupation of the insect un- 

 der the tree on the surface of the ground, 

 beneath whatever shelter it can find, or in 

 the crevices between the earth and the 

 trunk, enables us to kill vast numbers of 

 the pupge and transforming larvte by pour- 

 ing hot water over them. We found that 

 even Paris green water poured over them 

 also killed. If the trees stand on the side- 

 walk of the streets the larvae will go for 

 putation in the cracks between the bricks 

 or at the base of the tree where they can 

 also be killed in the same way. This 

 mode of destruction is, take it all in all, 

 the next most satisfactory one we know of, 

 though it must be frequently repeated. 



(2) We have largely experimented with 

 a view of intercepting and destroying the 

 larvK in their descent from the tree. 

 Troughs, such as are used for Canker- 

 worms, tarred paper, felt bands saturated 

 with oil, are all good and the means of 

 destroying large numbers. Care must be 

 taken, however, that the oil does not come 

 in contact with the trees, as it will soon kill 

 them, and when felt bandages are used 

 there should be a strip of tin or zinc be- 

 neath them. The trouble with all these 

 intercepting devices, however, is that many 

 larvae let themselves drop down direct 



from ihe tree and thus escape destruction. 

 In conclusion we would remark that it 

 is higlily probable that Pyrethrum powder 

 stirred up in water might be successfully 

 substituted for arsenical poisons, but ex- 

 periments in this direction have not yet 

 been made. From experiments we have 

 made with tlie dry, unmixed powder, we 

 found that it affects very quickly the larva, 

 pupa and the perfect insect, but in order 

 to be applied on a large scale and on large 

 trees the powder must of course be mixed 

 in water. There is, however, no danger 

 in the judicious use of the arsenical 

 liquids upon shade trees. 



THE BU& IN THE PEA. 



The farmer has man}^ pests to contend with, 

 and the number is increasing annually. Fore- 

 most among them now is the Pea Bug, which 

 has done great damage in past years ; and with 

 the great stock of bugs on hand, we may expect 

 great ravages another year, unless something is 

 done to stay them. It is our duty, then, ere it is 

 too late, to consider what is best to do. If there 

 is a remedy it is high time we knew of it, as 

 spring will soon be here, and then there will not 

 be time for finding out what is best to do. From 

 what I know, and can learn from my fellow- 

 farmers in this section, all those who had sown 

 late in the season escaped the bugs almost en- 

 tirely, and also that those who had sown the 

 Prussian Blue Pea the last two years have been 

 free from them. Now, if such is the case in 

 other places, I think it would be well for all to 

 know, as it is very easy for others to report from 

 different sections of the country through the col- 

 umns of your paper. Hoping this may cause the 

 opinions of others to be expressed, I leave it for 

 able pens. — J. L. Carville, in Farmer s Advocate, 

 Canada. 



Late sowing is probably one of the best 

 methods of checking the increase of the 

 pea-weevil, but the farmers must also be 

 ver)- careful to destroy every weevil found 

 in their seed peas, and to do this, the peas 

 should be kept in strong, closely-woven 

 bags, or, what is better, tight barrels, and 

 then the weevils will all leave the peas 

 before the time of sowing a late crop, but 

 not being able to escape into the open air, 

 can be easily destroyed. We have our 

 doubts in regard to what is called the 

 " Prussian Blue " pea being weevil-proof, 

 as this insect is not at all particular as to 

 the variety it attacks ; the hardest and 

 poorest sorts being just as acceptable as 

 the most delicate and finest flavored. — 

 A. S. F. 



