65 



NOTES OF THE YEAR. 

 By B. Gott, Arkona, Ont. 



Mutation and variation are palpably stamped upon all things terrestrial. There is 

 nothing of and from the earth that is not more or less subject to action and reaction, to 

 removal and change. This statement is true also of the seasons of the year ; one season 

 differs from another, comes on earlier, is more distinctly marked, or lasts longer or later 

 than those preceding. The distinctive features of this year have been, first, a short and 

 mild winter, and the early activity of vegetable and insect life, and consequent early 

 maturity. So early as the 6th day of March (when in past seasons at this date all was 

 firmly shut up in the iron grasp of winter), a beautiful balmy spring time burst upon us, 

 which had the effect of immediately awakening into activity both vegetable and insect 

 life to a most surprising extent. The mission work of insects, and their beneficial ser- 

 vices to vegetation, is now very generally admitted by the ablest and best authorities on 

 natural history, in the fertilization of plant germs, involving the useful and advantageous 

 work of crossing and improving varieties. It would thus appear that all are necessary in 

 their time and place ; none are created uselessly or without a distinctive purpose. The 

 seasons of spring and summer seemed throughout a month earlier than usual. Another 

 characteristic of this year was its intense heat in July, followed by its prevalent damp- 

 ness in August and September. This dampness caused the putrefaction and destruction 

 of very large quantities of fruit and vegetable matter, and such insects as live on these 

 decaying substances were generated in abundance, which laboured in the removal of these 

 noxious substances from the earth. 



But it is not of these useful creatures we are disposed to complain and wage war on ; 

 it is on those who trespass on our rights and privileges, by destroying the fruits and 

 cereals we cultivate, and on which our prosperity and wealth largely depend. The abun- 

 dance of some forms of insect life are largely due to the altered conditions which settle- 

 ment and the clearing of the forests have brought about. By this means the equilibrium 

 of nature in this respect has been disturbed, while the few varieties of plants and fruits 

 we cultivate are grown in such quantities as to supply food to an unlimited extent to the 

 insect hordes which feed upon them, and since the abundance of insect life is usually 

 largely dependent on the supply of food, a constant warfare is necessary to keep such as 

 are injurious within due bounds. 



In this we are helped by birds, and also by friendly parasitic and carnivorous insects. 

 In this connection the advantages of the study of Entomology are clearly manifest, since 

 by this means we obtain an insight into the life-history of the various species, learn their 

 habits, and, after some observation and study, are enabled to distinguish our friends from 

 our foes among the insect tribes, and while we wage war on those which injure us, throw 

 the shield of our protection about our tiny helpers. 



1. The Hessian Fly (Cecidomyia destructor), and American Wheat Midge {C. Tritici). 



In the Fall of the year 1877, throughout this country and some of the Statesof the American 

 Union, there was a grievous and general outcry occasioned by the ravages of the first of these 

 wheat insects. The small dipterous insect known by this name lays its eggs quite early, 

 and the young larva, developed therefrom in the months of October and November, feeds 

 upon the young growing wheat plant, and robs it of nourishment and causes it to look sickly 

 and wither away. When these insects are present in great numbers, whole acres, and even 

 fields of wheat, will assume this disheartening appearance. It is a great and general evil, 

 and is clearly on the increase ; but the farmers this season have taken precautionary measureSj 

 and forebore to sow their wheat as early as usual, this being considered one of the remedia 

 measures. Many other precautionary and helpful remedies are likely to be adopted. The 

 prevalence of the second wheat fiy was not very general, and was only noticed in some speci- 

 mens of spring wheat. This insect, unlike the other, feeds only upon the young and tender 

 grains. It is to be hoped for the safety of our crops that these insects may be speedily 

 checked in their destructive work. 



