■KTq 1 1 HJi.rrr/I.anftin^ NolfHi. 59 



experiments were conclncted. Emptisa and Sj^orotricJmm develop side by side in the 

 inf'ectino- cao'es, and dead bugs sent in from fields where the bugs are dying show both 

 iun"-i. At the close of the season 1 hope to present a full report of the laboratory 

 investi"-atious, which the brief mo nthly reports otfer no space for. Professor S. A. 

 Forbes the eminent State entomologist of Illinois, who has experimented in his labo- 

 vatoiv ou the development of parasitic fungi in insects, and who earlj' noted the bacte- 

 rial disease of the clinch bugs, visited my laboratory hist week. He expressed the 

 hope that a series of field experiments, such as are now being carried on in Kansas, 

 could be conducted in Illinois. 



" In closing, I may say that the outcome of the work so far this year is highly 

 encouraging." 



•' Since mahing this report the requests for infected bugs have grown much less 

 numerous. Tlie laboratory experiments have been carried on with more attention 

 paid to bacteria. So far I have been unable to successfully infect bugs in the labora- 

 tory from pure cultures of SporotricJmm. The SporotricJium grows readily on a 

 medium composed of beef broth and Irish moss, and pure cultures are easily obtained- 

 Other experiments with these cultures are necessarj', however, to make this statement 

 positive. ISm^usa will not fruit on the plates. It behaves very peculiarly. Long 

 erect filaments are sent out strikingly different from the customary hyphge, but no 

 spores are produced. As regards the bacteria, I am assured that the forms in my 

 cultures are identical with Burrill's Micrococcus insectmnim, two slides of which have 

 been furnished me by Professor Forbes. This Micrococcus is iound almost without 

 exception in bugs which have died in the field and been sent in for examination. 

 Another Micrococcus, Lirger and almost perfectlycircvilarinoptic.il plane, is often 

 present in dead and dying bugs. Spraying experiments with fluids containing this 

 Micrococcus give no successful results in infection." (Insect Life, Vol. IV, pp, 

 H9-7L) , 



Gas lime and lime have long been recommended against rnot-feeding- 

 insect:^, and in a recent Bulletin of the new 



Fertilizers «er™. insects. j^^,^^^ Agricltural College Experiment 



Station, Mr. J. B. Smith advocates kainit and muriate of potasli for a 

 similar purpose. Mr. Smith writes — 



" The u^^e of commercial fertilizers is becoming more general each year, and each 

 year tlie farmers are considering more chisely what material to buy to obtain the best 

 results on their own land, and also the form in which the needed element is to be 

 applied. Wherever it can be profitably done, potash should he applied in the form 

 of kainit, and nitrogen in the form of nitrate of soila. I am not recommending these 

 substances as in all cases the best fertilizers, nor would I be understood as condemn- 

 ing other forms of these elements. From the standpoint of the entomologist they 



are the best, because they have undoubted insecticide properties During the 



season of 1890 I found in a fine peach orchard several trees undoubtedly infested by 

 root lice. I directed the application of kainit in a trench, and the new foliage was 

 normal. A neighbour, observing the process, doctored some of his own trees, 

 improving the treatment by adding niti-ate of soda, one quart of each per tree. The 

 result was striking, showing that the nitrate had acted as a stimulant, and had pro- 

 bably also aided in the destruction of the aphids. Potash is a necessary element 



of food for corn, and if, in supplying the j)otash, kainit be used, injury will be almost 

 entirely prevented. Muriate of potash is also efi'ective, but less so than kainit. The 

 evidence of all the farmers now using kainit for corn, and with whom 1 have talked 



