$ 
1887] Entomology. 381 
affect green fruit, and suggests that one means of avoiding the 
former “is to maintain the health and increase the vigor of the 
plants by judicious breeding.” 
Botanical News,—Fascicle V. of Millspaugh’s “ American Me- 
dicinal Plants” was delivered to subscribers a month or two ago. 
Like the preceding fascicles, 2 one reign oey plates, all 
of which are well done-——Professor Penhallow’s “ Mechanism 
of Movement in Cucurbita, Vitis, and Robinia” A Sa and Trans. 
Royal Soc. of Canada,” vol. iv , 1886) treats of the tendril-move- 
ments of the first and second, and leaf-movements of the last. 
(isig plates accompany the paper——The “ Additional Notes 
on the Tendrils of Cucurbitacee” (Can. Record of Science, Oc- 
eae 1886), by the same author, continues the work in the order 
mentioned. Twenty-two species belonging to nine genera were 
under observation. The principal inquiry in this paper was that 
of Botany, of the new “Index of Plant Names,” now under way. 
It is the intention to make a complete index of all genera and 
March Botanical Gazette is one by Dr. toe on ele 
It is an “essay at a rearrangement of our species,” and is sub- 
mitted in the hope of eliciting from botanists such observations 
and criticisms as will either confirm or invalidate the characters 
used 
ENTOMOLOGY. 
The Joint-Worm in New York. —Twenty-five years ago 
Isosoma hordei did a great amount of injury to wheat, barley, 
and rye in this State; in some localities the yield was reduced 
fully fifty per cent. But during recent years this insect has 
attracted almost no attention. The present generation of farmers 
- do not even know the characteristic signs of its ravages. There 
however, indications that the causes that have kept it in 
+ 
- check, whatever they may be, are ceasing to be effective. And 
it is more than probable that unless care is exercised by the grain- 
growers of the State, there will be a repetition in the near future 
of the great losses of a quarter-century ago. The insect has 
already become very abundant in the northern part of Tompkins 
County. But I am not aware that the farmers even suspected its 
presence until their attention was called to it at a recent farmers’ 
institute. The proprietors of a paper-mill at Ithaca have found 
that the straw received from certain localities is unfit for making 
paper, owing to the solidification of considerable portions of it 
by the injuries of this insect. In one lot of straw received from 
t This department is edited by Prof. J. H. Comstock, Cornell Areda Ithaca, 
N. Y., to whom communications, books for notice, etc., should 
