85 



In spite of the enviable fertility of the soil, which permits the gathering of the 

 crops in less than three months, farmers can only receive a reward for their labor 

 and sacrifice by the immediate selling of the crop as soon as harvested, because it 

 quickly becomes infested by the weevil, which in a few days renders it useless. 



For the prevention of this damage the Department has assisted the agriculturists to 

 make the following experiment: 



When the corn is harvested and to be gathered into the storehouse, the grain is 

 sprinkled to a height of 12 to 15 inches and then covered by a layer, nearly covering 

 it entirely, of the sawdust of cedar mixed with a little salt (about half a gallon), fol- 

 lowed by a thick layer of maize, then by another thick covering of the cedar dust and 

 a little salt, continuing the same process. 



This author presents the difficulty, in the practical outcome, of producing a flavor 

 which is disagreeable to the animals and leaves them in a condition unfit for the 

 market. 



BEETLES INJURIOUS TO HERBARIUM FUNGI. 



We received during March, 1903, through the kindness of Prof. 

 T. D. A. Cockerell, from W. C. Sturgis, some interesting informa- 

 tion in regard to injury by certain species of beetles to. a collection of 

 fungi and mycetozoa. Professor Sturgis, writing from Colorado 

 Springs, Colo., states that his collection of mycetozoa has been much 

 bothered by the attacks of small beetles which feed mostly upon 

 spores, and especially of the Stemonitacea?. He complains that some 

 most beautiful and copious specimens were reduced to nothing but 

 sticks and a powdery mass of black excrement within a period of a 

 few weeks hy these pests. Among the insects troublesome to his 

 plants are the following: 



ArrJienojplita bicomis 01. Injured Stemonitis, and was alone. 



Sphindus americanus Lee, very common!} 7 met and destructive. 



Liodes obsoleta Horn., also concerned in injury. 



Bmocera (?) sp., also concerned in injury. 



Professor Sturgis states that these beetles operate after the speci- 

 mens have been dried and placed in the herbarium ; that they prefer the 

 specimen to the wood as food, and that their depredations are almost 

 exclusively confined to the Stemonitis, Comatricha, and Lamprcderrna, 

 genera whose species often show a dense tufted habit peculiarly 

 susceptible to attack. 



A fifth species, presumably a Cioid from the description, is mentioned 

 as the principal insect enemy to the specimens which have been 

 considered. 



A WEST INDIAN FRUIT-TREE BORER. 



June 8, 1903, we received a communication from Mr. Bernabe San- 

 chez Adan, Central Senado, Las Minas, Cuba, with accompanying 

 specimens of the Bostiychid beetle, Apate carmelita Fab., which was 

 reported to be destro}^ing orange, plum, and almond orchards. The 

 beetles were described as boring from the outside seeking the core, 

 which they readih T attacked, the trees perishing in a short time. By 



