Sept. 1894.] 



INJUEIOUS INSECTS AND FUNGI. 



57 



proportion of two bushels of lime to one of soot, form a valuable 

 dressing. Wood-ashes, and ashes from burnt earth and peat 

 moss, well powdered, to which from, two to four quarts of 

 paraffin oil have been added to each cwt., have been used with 

 some advantage. All these dry dressings should be applied 

 when dew is on the plants, or after rain. 



Rolling the land is very often serviceable, as it disturbs the 

 beetles and presses soil round the plants and keeps the moisture 

 in. 



A light wide framework of freshly tarred boards set upon 

 wheels and drawn over the plants, so that the boards are just 

 above the foliage, is a useful appliance for catching beetles, 

 which instinctively jump as the boards pass over them and 

 alight on the tar. Many acres can be treated in a day with a 

 machine of this kind. The tar must be renewed from time to 

 time. 



Driving flocks of sheep over plants infested with beetles has 

 been found advantageous. This must be done in dry weather 

 and very early in the morning that the dust may stick on the 

 leaves. 



Dry substances may be put on with a horse-distributor, and 

 liquid mixtures, such as soft soap and quassia (6 dbs. of the 

 former with the extract of 8 lbs. of the latter to 100 gallons of 

 water), and pure carbolic acid or paraffin oil may be distributed 

 with the same machine. 



Surface Caterpillars. 



In some parts of Germany much damage has recently been 

 done to crops by surface caterpillars, the larvse of the Dart 

 Moth, Agrotis segetum. 



The subject has engaged the attention of the Minister of 

 Agriculture, who, according to the Deutsche Landwirtschaftliche 

 Presse, has consulted certain agricultural societies with a view 

 to extirpate the pest. 



The best means of destruction seems to be to pick up the 

 caterpillars behind the plough. This can readily be done by 

 women and children either in spring or autumn. It has also 

 been found that fowls are very useful in this respect. The 

 moth itself can easily be caught in the following manner : — In 

 the evening at the time of flight, barrels with chinks in their 

 sides are set down in places frequented by the moths. A lamp 

 is placed on the bottom of each barrel, which is smeared with 

 tar on the inner surface. The light attracts the dart moth and 

 other insects into the barrel where they are caught by the tar. 



This method is said to have the advantage of being cheap 

 and easily practicable everywhere ; moreover, it results in the 

 capture of thousands of injurious insects. 



