30 



the dressing, for they disappeared entirely soon after the second application. I also 

 tried the yeast for Aphides on Guelder Eose (Viburnum), Elder (Sambucus), Field 

 Bean, and some other plants ; also for Currant Grub, but could make no decided mark 

 anywhere. With respect to the Currant and Gooseberry Grubs, the liquid ran from off 

 their bodies clean, and I found it almost impossible to saturate them with it. If the 

 syringing was persisted in, they would release their hold and fall to the ground, but very 

 shortly crawl up again. To conclude, I was delighted with thewapparent success of my 

 first experiment, but all subsequent trials were so discouraging that I fear yeast is too 

 uncertain in its action to supersede many of the washes we have already in use. Again 

 thanking you for your kind letter, I beg to subscribe myself, sir, Yours most respect- 

 fully, Thos. H. Hart. 



To Dr. H. A. Hagen, Cambridge, Mass., U. S. A. 



This interesting letter by Mr. Thos. H. Hart, who owns nurseries and greenhouses, 

 allows the following conclusions : 



L It is doubtless true that in the experiments of June 16 and 20, the Aphides were 

 killed, as upon the branch not syringed they remained in perfect health. 



II. It is doubtless true that the later experiments were a failure. 



III. It seems evident that the yeast has not contained Isaria, or other fungi obnox- 

 ious to insects, to which the first success could be ascribed ; otherwise the later applica- 

 tion of the same fluid ought to have had the same effect, or even by the multiplication of 

 the fungi, a more marked effect. 



Experiments made in Germany and here had exactly the same result, first success, 

 later failure. In Germany it was made on a jasmine, in a flower pot, and the previously 

 rather sick plant was in 1881 in good health and perfectly free of Aphides. Some cur- 

 rant shrubs on the left side of my house were entirely free through the whole year (with- 

 out fall generation) after the experiment, though similar shrubs on the right side of my 

 house were badly infested with currant worms ; I had here purposely not applied yeast. 

 After all I believe it can be concluded that a certain stage of the yeast solution is needed 

 to make it effective, and that after this stage it becomes indifferent. That yeast solution, 

 has killed insects seems to be undoubtedly proved, and it remains only to find out the 

 stage in which its application is successful. It is sure that success, even in a small 

 number of experiments, cannot be annihilated by failure in other experiments. 



The Cabbage Butterfly, Pieris Rapce, in Nebraska. 

 By G. M. Dodge, Glencoe, Dodge Co., Neb. 



I am sorry to note the appearance of P. rapes in Nebraska. August 3rd, 1881, I 

 first saw a living specimen ; needless to add that it was busily engaged in a cabbage 

 patch. Others soon appeared, and before cold weather set in it had become quite abun- 

 dant and larvae in an advanced stage of growth were found in November. Probably the 

 butterfly crossed the Missouri in the summer of 1880. We are here thirty-five miles 

 west of the river, a distance that could hardly be traversed in one season. It also ap- 

 pears that the cabbage crop has been almost totally destroyed in the eastern part of 

 Dodge County and farther east, while here a partial crop has been secured notwith- 

 standing the visit of the imported pest, supplemented by an unusual abundance of the 

 Cabbage Plusia. August 1st, 1873, when I left my former home in Bureau County, 

 Illinois, rapoe had not yet reached that place ; therefore in less than eight years its west- 

 ward progress upon this parallel has taken it across the State of Iowa and the Missis- 

 sippi and Missouri Rivers. 



The question naturally arises — Will the insect stop short when he reaches the 

 grassy plains of Western Nebraska, or will it press onward to the cabbage gardens of 

 fjtah and the Western slope ? By the aid of man it might soon cross the plains, even 

 if it subsisted wholly upon cabbages ; but being not averse to other cruciferous plants, it 

 will find its way made easy. A mustard-like plant of this family with pink flowers 

 grows along the embankment of the Union Pacific Railway, nearly if not quite through- 



