278 



Insect, Fungus and other Pests. [July, 



Leaflet No. 57, may be dealt with in the manner suggested in the 

 leaflet. Dipping the fowls in a bath prepared from " staves- acre " 

 should also be tried three times at intervals of a week. The 

 woodwork, &c, of the fowl house should also receive attention, 

 and perhaps no method will be more successful than pumping 

 boiling water over it with a continuous pump from a cauldron 

 of water kept at the boiling point. Where such a plan is not 

 feasible spraying with a 2 per cent, solution of formalin should 

 be tried. 



Woodlice, or slaters, were also very plentiful at the same 

 place. They may be reduced in number by trapping (a) by 

 flower pots containing wet grass, moss, or horse dung, or (b) by 

 slices of potato or other vegetable dusted with arsenic. 

 These traps should be placed at night near where the pests occur, 

 and be regularly visited and dealt with in the daytime. 



Eelworms. — Diseased onions from Bridgewater were found to 

 be attacked by the stem eel worm, as also were oats from 

 Stansted, Essex, while mangolds from Brook (Isle of Wight) 

 were attacked by the root eelworm. For an account of these 

 pests see Leaflets 46 and 75 respectively. 



The Apple Psylla appears to be very prevalent in Lincoln- 

 shire and the Isle of Ely this season, and as a result there will 

 probably be a reduction in the amount of fruit. 



Cricket on Vines. — From Blackburn the Board received an 

 insect taken on a vine. This insect proved to be the common 

 cricket, Gryllus domesticus. It affects warm places, hiding 

 during the day and coming out to feed at night. The common 

 food is bread and bread crumbs, and moist vegetable matter, 

 but it has also been known to be destructive to clothing. As 

 no previous case was known of harm done by the cricket to 

 vines, the correspondent was asked whether after further 

 observation he was absolutely satisfied that the damage 

 complained of was due to crickets, and not to vine weevils. 

 In reply, the Board were informed that a cricket was observed 

 on a leaf by lamplight, the position of the leaf was noted, 

 and the cricket left undisturbed ; in the morning the leaf was 

 found to be eaten in several places. Crickets were also 

 observed on buds and it was found that the buds were eaten 

 just when they opened. After the leaves became older and 

 tougher they did not appear to be touched. 



