120 WASPS. 



some parts of Surrey, Hants, Sussex, Kent, Essex, Middlesex, Herts, 

 and Bucks, the country appeared to be a iierfect Wasps' nest. 



"A solution of cyanide of potassium is our most effective remedy; but 

 being a rank j)oison, it must be carefully handled. Brimstone, gun- 

 powder, gas-tar, paraffin, Stockholm tar, and other * remedies,' are all 

 more or less effective ; but none are equal to the cyanide of potassium 

 in its deadly effects on the Wasps, and with careful handling it is 

 perfectly safe, and not costly." 



MoBAY, N.B. — The following notes, with which I was favoured on 

 October 4th, by Mr. Charles Webster, Horticultural Superintendent 

 for the Duke of Kichmond and Gordon, from The Gardens, Gordon 

 Castle, Fochabers, N.B,, contain much useful information. The points 

 particularly noted are, that no especially large number of Wasps had been 

 observed in the spring ; the enormous number, and great amount of 

 damage to fruit, ranging in date from the end of July until the second 

 week in September, when the first frost occurred ; also some remarks 

 on the unusually large number of tree nests, observed chiefly on Larch 

 and Silver Fir ; and also number of nests in a given length of dry 

 stone dyke ; likewise some notes on measures taken to trap the Wasps. 

 Mr. C. Webster wrote as follows : — 



" So far as my own observation goes, there was not an unusual 

 number of queen Wasps in the spring, nor did the past winter seem 

 more favourable to preserve insect life than many former ones. It 

 was about the last days of July that my attention was first called to 

 the plague of Wasps, by their attack on the wall Cherries. We could 

 find no protection from their attack upon this fruit, a large proportion 

 being consumed by them. Some of the trees, when the nets were shaken, 

 had the appearance, for a few seconds, as if a swarm of Bees had come off. 



" As the different sorts of wall fruit ripened, such as Apricots, 

 Peaches, and especially Plums and Jargonelle Pears, it was attacked 

 by swarms of them. Even hard Apples and Pears (which had been 

 picked by birds), and quite devoid of saccharine matter, were fixed on 

 as greedily as some of the softer fruits. The plague continued from 

 the end of July to the second week in September, at which time we had 

 our first frost, cutting up Dahlias, Begonias, and other tender plants, 

 and also putting a check to the quantity of Wasps. 



" During the height of the attack, many thousands were caught by 

 means of glass traps and bottles containing some beer, which we had 

 hung on to the branches. It was also necessary to cover the 

 ventilators of the vineries to prevent their ingress, otherwise they 

 would soon have destroyed a house of fruit. 



' ' There is a dry stone dyke or wall which partly surrounds our 

 kitchen garden, and in it a great many nests were found. In a space 

 of ninety-six yards, twenty-three nests were destroyed, but no suitable 

 place seemed to be unoccupied by them. More nests were found this 



