21 
damage through late crops, loss of food for stock, and 
consequent derangement of farm routine, and loss of 
farm material. 
We have seen that, throughout the course of Fly 
attack, there are points by which this may he 
much aggravated or diminished; we see this in many 
parts of the history almost with mathematical precision; 
the Flea-beetles that torment us must have a locality 
somewhere during the winter; and if we clear out these 
beetles with their shelters, by just so much we are sure 
of absence of attack,—it may come from elsewhere, but 
we do something. 
With regard to what comes from elsewhere, I wish to 
direct your attention to some points which have lately 
been brought forward for the first time as a principle of 
Insect prevention, by one of the great authorities on 
these subjects, Prof. J. A. Lintner, State Entomologist, 
New York. 
He shows the probability—or rather the extent to 
which it can he proved—that insects have powers equi¬ 
valent to those of perception of scent in the higher 
animals, and that what are called repellent dressings, 
such as gas-lime, tar, kerosine, and the like, act in 
part by so overcoming the plant scent that it does not 
attract the feeder, and he gives notes of microscopic 
investigations, from which the organs of scent in many 
instances are considered to he placed in pits and sensi¬ 
tive bristles on the antenna or horns; some beetles 
appear to be without them, as the Weevils,—some, as the 
Chafers, to have them in vast numbers. 
Practically we all know that insects are sometimes 
attracted to each other, and to their food or place for egg- 
laying, by circumstances in which action of sight cannot 
be the guiding power; and in the special case of Flea- 
beetles we know they will fly up the wind to their prey, 
and also migrate in bodies to a more suitable crop. 
If this matter can he practically or scientifically 
worked out and proved correct, we have an engine of 
prevention and remedy placed in our hands of which the 
