95 



When the fleas cease to run out onto the head of the cat she judges that they have 

 deserted the cat. The animal is then let out of the batting bag, and the latter care- 

 fully carried to the kitchen and deposited in the stove. The scent of the camphor 

 clings to the cat for some time and acts as a preventive. A whole cattery may be 

 cleaned out in this way. 



A NEW REMEDY AGAINST PHYLLOXERA. 



Professor Vassiliere, in the Gironde, France, has for several years 

 past met with good success in using- calcium carbide against phylloxera. 



It is said to be superior for this purpose to bisulphide of carbon, 

 both as to efficiency and absence of danger in handling. The cost also 

 is less and it can be used in any season. It is sufficient to use the 

 residue resulting from the manufacture of carbide of calcium, which 

 is of little value otherwise and which is sold at about $2 for 220 pounds. 



For 1 hectare of vineyard land (1 hectare equivalent to 2.471 acres) 

 about 1,100 pounds of carbide are required. The carbide pieces are 

 put into holes in the ground, about 8 inches deep; water is poured in 

 and the hole filled up again. The resulting vapors kill the phylloxera, 

 while the ammonia generated manures the ground. Carbide is at 

 present extensively used in the vineyards of southern France, and 

 experts claim that it is the best remedy against phylloxera. — Richard 

 Guenther, consul-general, Frankfort, German}^, May 28, 1901. 



A NOTE ON THE GLASSY- WINGED SHARPSHOOTER. 



(Homalodisca coagulata Say.) 



Mr. W. D. Hunter, special agent of this Division, while at Victoria, 

 Tex., during May, 1901, wrote us on the 29th as follows concerning 

 this insect, specimens of which he sent, and which he stated were 

 feeding upon planted banana trees in great numbers: 



These insects feed upon the upper surface of the leaves and seem to prefer the cavity 

 of the midrib, or that immediate vicinity, for their operations. I notice what was 

 to me an interesting habit of these insects. While feeding during the portion of the 

 day when the sun falls hottest upon the leaves of the plant, each one is continually, 

 at intervals of only a few seconds, ejecting drops of liquid apparently from the anal 

 aperture. These drops are large enough to be seen plainly at a distance of 15 feet 

 and are forced out with such vigor that they go often as much as 12 inches in a 

 straight line before beginning to fall. Where there are many of the insects upon a 

 leaf a miniature, rainfall is produced. Such a forcible ejection of honeydew, and in 

 the case of insects outside of the Aphididse or Ceropidse, seems remarkable to me 

 and may be of interest to you. 



ON THE ALLEGED IMMUNITY OF REDWOOD TO ATTACK BY TERMITES. 



December 13, 1900, we received a communication through a firm of 

 lumber merchants of San Francisco, Cal., which appears to indicate 

 that the California redwood lumber is immune to the attack of white 

 ants, or termites. Through the firm in question we received a letter 



