64 



injurious effect on our vineyards, but we are meeting it with a good deal of success 

 by the fx-ee use of sulphur that Prof. Panton has just recommended. We have used 

 it quite freely aud very largely in some of the vineyards, and with a considerable 

 amount of success. Quite early in the season the first application is made and it is 

 repeated during the season. It was found to be very effective when the san is 

 shining upon the plant, as then the fumes of sulphur will rise more readily and have 

 the effect of destroying the fungus. 



Mr. BuoKE. — How did you apply it? 



Mr. WooLVERTON. — It was scattered over the vines or underneath them. I be- 

 lieve it is sufficient if sown freely on the ground underneath the vines. The sulphu- 

 rous acid, as I believe it is, will rise in sufficient quantities to destroy the fangus. 

 "We apply it freely with the hands. I believe that when the temperature is above YY 

 degrees that the sulphur is then found to be most effective. We are not affected 

 to any extent with downy mildew — at all events, I have not observed it in Southern 

 Ontario. 



Mr. Brodie. — Has any one used the ^Bordeaux mixture? 



Prof. Panton. — That is the mixture of lime and sulphate of copper. 



Mr. Fletcher. — Have you tried spraying sulphur on the vine ? 



Mr. WooLvERTON. — No ; I have not. 



The Eelation op Insects to Fruit Citlture, by Eev. Thomas W. Ftles, South 



Quebec. 



The subject of the relation of insects to fruit culture is worthy the consideration 

 both of fruit-growers and entomologists. It presents a vast field for research. The 

 more I have studied it the more its significance has widened before me, and the 

 more conscious I have become of my inability to deal with it adequately. 



Many persons regard insects simply as " bugs," in the original acceptation of 

 the term, i. e. terrors, and terrors to be, if possible, relentlessly and expeditiously 

 put out of the way. Such persons are under a great misapprehension. Probably 

 there is no kind of insect but will be found to perform a useful part in the system of 

 nature broadly viewed; though to the fruit-grower some kinds are inimical. 



Insects seen from, the fruit-grower's point of view may be grouped into five 

 classes : 



I. Insects favourable to fruit>culture. 

 II. Insects directly hurtful. 



III. Doubtful and neutral insects. 



IV. Insects directly benefical. 

 V. Insects indirectly injurious. 



Of insects directly favourable to fruit-culture, various kinds of bees are among 

 the most note-worthy. They predominate in the crowd of insect forms, with which 

 on sunny days, a fruit-tree in full blossom is enlivened. 



The purposes for which the bee frequents the blossoms are the gratification of 

 its own appetite with the sweet exudations from the nectaries, and the obtaining of 

 a supply of pollen or bee-bread for the use of the larvas of its species. 



But while the bee is carrying out its own ends, it is helping forward materially 

 that all-imjjortant process, the fertilization of the flowers. A reference to the ac- 

 companying diagram of a simple hermaphrodite flower will show how its work in 

 this respect is accomplished. 



At A is shown the stigma of the blossom ; at BB dehiseing anthers charged 

 with pollen-grains ; at 00 the nectaries. A bee working amongst the flowers comes 

 dusted over with poUen-grains, to a particular blossom. To get at the nectary 0, it 

 has to thrust itself between the stigma A and the anther B. In so doing some of 

 the pollen-grains with which it was covered are transferred to th i viscid surface of 

 the stigma, where they adhere. After lapping up the supply of nectar from 0, the 

 bee quits the blossom, carrying away a fresh supply of pollen from B. From' the 

 abundance of this, other blossoms are fecundated. At intervals the insect pauses 



