176 



Tival of the fittest, improvements in the method of reeling silk have 

 been strongly recommended, but hitherto little or nothing has been 

 done by the Chinese Government to introduce these improvements, 

 which would not only benefit the people, but augment the revenue. 

 The foreigners who have established filatures at Shanghai are confer- 

 ring a benefit on the country generally, and it is believed that good 

 Chinese silk properly reeled in these filatures is the best in the world. — 

 BeWs Messenger [London, England], August 25, 1890. 



FUMIGATING FOR SCALE INSECTS. 



The process of fumigation for the Red Scale in California seems to 

 be growing in popularity. We quote the following from the proceed- 

 ings of the Orange County Board of Horticulture at its meeting of 

 July 30, from the correspondence of the Pacific Rural Press : 



Mr. Preble, of the Tustin district, reported that the work of Red Scale killing was 

 going bravely on ; that every rig for fumigation was in demand; that orchardists 

 were each anxious to secure their turns; that a large number of groves had been com- 

 pleted ; that the results of the work were not entirely uniform, owing, in part, to 

 inferior cyanide used. A uniform grade of this article is necessary to secure the best 

 results. The Commission has opened correspondence with every known manufactur- 

 ing establishment in the United States to ascertain the percentage of cyanogen indi- 

 cated by each brand. 



Mr. Hamilton reported the same condition of things in his district. No compul- 

 sion has yet been found necessary. Each grower is anxious to learn the surest and 

 most economical method of destroying the scale. 



Mr. Keith reported a very different state of public sentiment obtained in his dis- 

 trict (Anaheim). He stated that there were about fifty men in that district, the 

 owners of trees badly infested with Red Scale, and that no one was willing to do any- 

 thing for their destruction. Some claim that a perfect killing of every scale on every 

 tree must be done, and that if the Commissioner would furnish such a remedy, then, 

 and not till then, they would employ him to kill them. But no such remedy has yet 

 been found and probably never will be. But the scale are on the trees just the same, 

 and it is only a question of time when the trees will be destroyed, and that time is 

 very short. 



Others claim that they can not afford to kill the scale on account of the expense, 

 unless their neighbors do the same; and so each makes excuse and nothing is done. 



The unreasonableness of the demand for a perfect remedy needs discussion. If a 

 remedy were ever so perfect the application of it must necessarily be imperfect. The 

 causes are various and need no discussion. The Red Scale has come and that to stay. 

 The best that can be hoped for it is to so reduce it as to make orange growing profita- 

 ble. This can be done either with spraying or with fumigation. But skillful and 

 thorough work must be done, no matter which remedy is used. 



SWARMING OF A CRICKET AND A GROUND BEETLE IN TEXAS. 



A letter, dated September 12, 1890, from Mr. G. H. Ragsdale, Gaines- 

 ville, Tex., conveyed the information that a flight of crickets, accom- 

 panied by a small dark beetle about a half inch in length, visited his 

 locality about the 9th and 10th of the month, particularly in the cities, 

 appearing to drift in an easterly direction and showing themselves 

 abundantly on the west walls of buildings. A second letter, dated Sep- 



