108 THE REPORT OF THE [iy 



Fodder Crops. 



There have been few complaints of injury to fodder crops daring the past season, 

 viae usual occurrence of " silverstop " on grasses in old meadows was due to the depredations 

 of small leaf-hoppers. Grasshoppers were destructive only in a few localities. In the 

 Ottawa district a considerable quantity of the common red and mammoth clover was 

 injured by the Smaller Clover weevil (Phytonomus nigrirostris, Fab ) just before flowering 

 in June, but there was no recurrence noticed in the second crop, and as clover is not 

 grown for seed in the district, the injury was unimportant. The clover-seed midge 

 (Cecidomyia leguminicola, Lint.) occurred in Western Ontario ; but less complaints than 

 usual were received. 



Root Crops and Vegetables. 



The various Root Maggots, always so destructive, attacked turnips, onions and cab- 

 bages, and, although a certain amount of success was obtained from the use of carbolic ap- 

 plications and the Golf tar-paper disk, nothing new of value was elicited. Dr. W. Gilpin, 

 of Brechin, reports some successful experiments with white-lead applied around the stems 

 of cabbages at the time of setting out. A series of experiments with a diluted application 

 of Jeye's fluid, watered along rows of onions and radishes once a week from the time they 

 appeared above the ground, would indicate that this will prove a useful remedy. Cab- 

 bages and cauliflowers similarly treated were also much benefited by this application. 



The Diamond-back moth (Plutella cruciferarum, Zell.). One of the remarkable 

 attacks of the past season, which was widespread throughout the Province, was by the 

 caterpillars of the Diamond back moth, and occurred upon turnips, rape, and cabbages of 

 all kinds. The injury became noticeable during August, when white patches appeared 

 upon the leaves. Fields of Swede turnips and rape were seen so seriously injured near 

 Stittsville and Ottawa as to look quite white from a short distance, and the crops were 

 materially reduced. The small active caterpillars swarmed upon the leaves, but were 

 found co be attacked by the usual parasite (Limneria parva, Prov.). On walking through 

 infested fields the small moths flew up in swarms. Upon the Central Experimental Farm 

 Brussels sprouts were much injured, and rendered unfit for the market by the larvae 

 eating their way inside the nubs. The habits of the caterpillar render the successful 

 application of remedies difficult ; for the most part they work beneath the leaves, and at 

 the slightest disturbance let themselves down by a silken thread. Remedies which have 

 been used successfully are dry applications, containing Paris green and pyrethrum, or a 

 kerosene emulsion spray ; but all of these must be used promptly on the first appearance 

 of the enemy. 



Blister beetles (Macrobasis unicolor, Kirby) did some damage to potatoes in the north- 

 western counties ; but as usual their attacks were of short duration, and where spraying 

 with Paris green was practised promptly little harm was done, The closely allied Oil 

 beetle Meloe Americanus Leach was found by Mr. J. J. Sheil injuring potatoes at Ariel, 

 Ont. 



The Asparagus beetles (Crioceris asparagi, Linn.) and 0. 12-punctatus, Linn.) 

 appeared for the first time in Canada during the past summer. The two species were 

 about equally abundant, and were the cause of loss to asparagus growers at Queenston 

 and other places in the Niagara peninsula. These two beetles have been spreading slowly 

 through the United States for some years. The common Asparagus beetle was first noticed 

 in America 40 years ago; but it was not until 1881 that the 12-spotted asparagus beetle 

 made its appearance, when it was found at Baltimore, Md. 



The two species are very unlike. The asparagus beetle is a narrow black beetle about 

 \ of an inch in length, very prettily marked ; the head, legs and antenna are black, the 

 thorax red and the wing cases are black, with six silvery white spots, and widely bordered 

 round their edges with orange red. The marks on the wing covers have sometimes the 

 appearancs of a black cross, for which reason it has also been called in England, the 

 Oross-bearer. The 12-spotted asparagus beetle is of about the same length as the above ; 

 but slightly wider, and has the whole body orange-red, with exception of the antennae, the 

 feet, the knees and 12 black spots on the wing covers — 6 on each. As a rale, the latter is 



