10 



soil about the roots ; soot, lime and ashes have also been suggested, strewed around the 



vines. 



Several species of predaceous insects prey on this louse. A small fly, an un- 

 determined species of Diplosis, deposits its eg»s within the gall, in which the larval and 

 pupal stages of this insect are also passed. The larva of this friendly species, although 

 destitute of legs, is very active, and groping about within the hollow of the gall, seizes 

 on the young lice as hatched and sucks them dry. I have found no evidence of its 

 attacking the parent lice, the newly born and tender progeny being more to its taste, 

 and in sufficient abundance to furnish it with a constant supply of fresh food. In some 

 instances one larva, in others two are found in a single gall, but in* no instance have I 

 found living lice with the chrysalids, an evidence that its beneficial work is completed 

 before this change takes place. An active mite, Tyroglyphus phylloxera, the larva of a 

 Syrphus fly, Ripiza raclicans, also the larva of a small dull-coloured Lady-bird, a species 

 of Scymnus, all aid in keeping in subjection the root-inhabiting form. 



Most of our American vines are much more vigorous than the European sorts, and 

 hence are likely to endure the inroads of this insect much better. As the insect is native 

 to our country, our vines must have always been subject more or less to its attacks, and 

 hence probably have developed a hardier constitution, with greater capacity for endur- 

 ance or resistance. Last year I observed on some Concord vines evidences of unhealthi- 

 ness, which I now believe arose from the presence of Phylloxera ; this season most of 

 them seem to have recovered their natural vigour. This inspires the hope that some of 

 our vines may be able to endure the presence of this pest without very serious injury or 

 loss. 



During the month of July I received from Prof. J. A. Lintner, State Entomologist ' 

 of New York, specimens of parasitized egg of the Gooseberry Sawfly, Nematus ventricosw>, 

 which he kindly sent me for the purpose of enabling me to introduce the parasite into 

 Canada. This parasite is a very minute four- winged fly, probably Trichogramma pretiosa, 

 with very delicate fringed wings. Some of these I placed while still unhatched near to 

 eggs of the Sawfly recently laid on currant leaves. It is sincerely hoped that the effort 

 for their introduction into Ontario will be successful, as they seem to do their work very 

 thoroughly, every egg in the examples sent me being parasitized. The presence of the 

 parasite may be detected by the discoloration of the egg, which becomes brown. 



Recently I have received from a correspondent in Oakville, Mr. M. Eelan, some ex- 

 amples of the destructive work of Systena frontalis, on grape vine leaves. This beetle,, 

 although very generally distributed, has not, as far as I know, ever been recorded before 

 as destructive or noxious. In this instance it seems to be quite local in its abundance, 

 as my correspondent informs me that they are not found on his neighbour's vines, al- 

 though very abundant and destructive on his own, eating the green tissues of the leaf on 

 the upper side and causing it to wither. 



Examples of what appears to be a new disease on the pea have lately been brought 

 to my notice from several localities, under the impression that it was caused by an in- 

 sect. The disease manifests itself in a series of white fleshy swellings at short intervals 

 along the fibrous roots, varying in size from one-sixteenth of an inch to one-eight of an 

 inch or more in diameter, irregular in form, and of a solid fleshy structure. Microscopical 

 examination has convinced me that it is a fungus growth in the production of which in- 

 sects play no part. It appears to have the effect of stunting the growth of the plants 

 and lessening the crop. 



The short fruit crop this year, after the abundant promise of the spring, has been 

 by many attributed to the work of insects, but this I am satisfied is an error, for while 

 in many instances a small amount of injury has been done by insects, the main causes 

 of the failure must be looked for elsewhere. Insects are important agents in the fertili- 

 zation of fruit blossoms, and at the time of the abundant blossoming of the past season 

 wet weather prevailed with an unusually low temperature, which prevented the insects 

 then on the wing from visiting the flowers ; the low prevailing temperature may hav< j 

 also interfered with the proper maturing of the fertilizing agent, while the frequent rains 

 washed away from the opening flowers much of the pollen as formed. To these causes 

 combined may probably be attributed the lack of fertilization of the blossoms. Following; 



