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Among garden insects, while the common squash bug was not so 

 abundant this year as usual, the cucumber beetles kept up their 

 attacks as in previous years. The asparagus beetles are now passing 

 through Ontario, but, strange to say, the twelve-spotted species is 

 taking the lead. In the districts which have been infested for two 

 or more seasons the common asparagus beetle is by far the more 

 abundant. 



With regard to the San Jose scale I regret to report that the insect 

 was never more abundant than it is at present. The fruit growers 

 are now in earnest regarding the matter of controlling the scale, but 

 the}^ have delayed too long. Hard, persistent work is now necessary 

 to present marketable fruit, and much money will have to be expended 

 in providing spraying materials. Our San Jose scale-infested area 

 occupies only a small portion of the Province, and many of our finest 

 fruit sections are still free from the pest. Our fumigation act is rig- 

 idly enforced, and it has undoubtedly been the chief means for the 

 prevention of the spread of the scale. 



In the southwest part of the province the lime-sulphur-salt remedy 

 has been tried on an extensive scale, and it has been found effective 

 and cheap. By the establishing of township sprayers better work has 

 been done and at little trouble by the owners. The owner acts as 

 general supervisor of the spraying operations and sees that the opera- 

 tion is done properly. 



A little east of this section crude petroleum is the standard remedy. 

 Oil wells are close by, and the orchards are almost altogether com- 

 posed of apples, pears, and plums. 



In the Niagara district, for some reason or other, the two remedies 

 found effective farther west are not popular. 



Mr. Felt remarked that in New York Crioceris asjiaragi was more 

 injurious than C. 12-punctata, this being especially true in the Hud- 

 son Valley. 



Mr. Lochhead stated, in answer to a question, that grapes were 

 grown to a large extent in Ontario, but the grape fidia had not yet 

 appeared. 



Mr. Gillette reported that alfalfa was attacked b}^ thrips in Colo- 

 rado, the seed being ruined, and asked if any new remedies had been 

 found for destining the squash bug. 



Mr. Felt replied that the shingle method, which had been used in 

 Massachusetts years ago, was the most satisfactory one that he had 

 tried. 



22564— No. 46—04 6 



