110 



Tlie idea of doing anything at all practical on an extensive scale by 

 tlie rearing of dragon-flies had always seemed to him somewhat visionary, 

 whereas the use of kerosene in special cases promised satisfactory re- 

 sults. Mr. Howard's careful experiments were the first, he believed, to 

 show how very effective under certain circumstances kerosene was. 



In discussing Mr. Southwick's paper Mr. Forbes thought that much 

 might be accomplished by artificial diffusion of the disease mentioned 

 as attacking the Depressaria larv?e, by Mr. Southwick. 



Mr. Lintner had been troubled by a similar disease, working among 

 the larv* of several Lepidoptera in his breeding cages. 



The following notes were then presented : 



NOTES FROM THE MISSISSIPPI STATION. 



By Howard Evarts Weed, Agricultural College, Miss. 



The following short notes embrace only notices of some of the more 

 common insects which have been especially injurious during the past 

 season. 



In October of last year the Horn Fly was quite abundant in some of 

 the eastern portions of the State, but by many was not supposed to be 

 a new pest. One point in regard to this insect has been especially 

 noticed this season, which I do not find mentioned by those who have 

 given the subject especial attention. This is in regard to what cattle 

 are especially attacked. Kiley and Howard in Insect Life (vol. ii, 

 p. 100) say: ^'Certain cattle again will be covered with flies and will lose 

 condition rapidly, while others are but slightly troubled," but so far as 

 I know no writers have mentioned just what cattle are most attacked. 

 I have found that the dark-colored cattle are most attacked, as, e. ^., a 

 black cow will be covered with the flies while a white cow, standing 

 alongside, will be almost if not entirely free. The experiments of Riley, 

 Howard, Smith, and others in regard to the application of various sub- 

 stances to the cattle as preventives have been repeated with nearly the 

 same results. So far as I know we have no substances which will keep 

 the flies from the cattle long enough to be of practical benefit. Early 

 in July the kerosene emulsion remedy was given a thorough test. The 

 milk emulsion was used dilated to one-twelfth. The spray was applied 

 by means of a knapsack pump at milking time in the morning for three 

 days, when the flies had so disappeared that they were not again 

 numerous for three weeks. 



Chinch Bugs were reported in small numbers early in May, but none 

 were to be found by the middle of June. 



Cerotoma caminea is very injurious to beans throughout Mississippi. 

 The dark yellow eggs of this insect are laid around the stem just below 

 the surface, from six to ten in a cluster. The larvae eat around and 

 within the stem. There are two broods a season, the beetles being 



