committed such fearful ravages upon the grape-growing industry 

 of France, by its inoculation with some microscopic fungus. 



In this country, as long ago as 1874, the same idea was sug- 

 gested by Dr. John L. LeConte.^ He recomfnends that a careful 

 study of the epidemic diseases of insects be made, especially 

 those of a fungoid nature, hoping thereby that some sweeping 

 remedy may be found by which man can rid himself of insect 

 enemies. 



Charles A. Peck, State botanist of New York, advanced the 

 same idea in 1876, only, however, applying it to the destruction 

 of obnoxious plants. He says,'' "On the other hand, those fungi 

 that infest noxious weeds and hinder their dissemination and 

 multiplication must be regarded as the friends and allies of man. 

 Thus, the thistle rust, Trichobasis suaveoleus, an early stage of 

 Puccinia compositamm, sometimes attacks the Canada thistle with 

 great virulence, and so impairs its vigor as to prevent the develop- 

 ment of the seeds, thereby checking the propagation and spread 

 of this pestilent plant.-,. So, also, the troublesome bur-grass, 

 Cenchrus tribitloides, is sometimes infested by a smut fungus, 

 Ustilago syntherismce , which not only prevents the development 

 of the seeds of the grass but also the annoying bur-like involu- 

 cres. It may yet be found practicable to keep down this grass 

 by the artificial dissemination of the spores of its parasitic 

 fungus." 



Among the facts pointing to a favorable issue of the proposed 

 remedy against obnoxious insects, is the well-known fact that 

 many insects living under wholly natural conditions are annually 

 destroyed by fungi. Cook states that about twenty-five species of 

 the genus Torrubia are known to be parasitic on insects.^ 



Mr. Peck, in his Annual Report on the N. Y. Museum of Nat, 

 Hist, for 1878, says that, "the seventeen-year locust. Cicada scp- 

 temdecim, which made its appearance in the Hudson River valley 

 early in the summer, was affected by a fungus. The first speci- 

 men of this kind that I saw was taken in New Jersey and sent to 

 me by Rev. R. B. Post. Examination revealed the fact that the 

 Cicadas or ' seventeen-year locusts ' in this vicinity were also 



1 " Proceerlings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science," 

 1874, p. 22. 



2 Twenty-ninth Annual Report on the State Museum ol Natural History (1876) 

 p. 3°- 

 ■'" Fungi, their Nature and Uses," p. 218. 



