334 REPORT OF THE ACTING HORTICULTURIST OF THE 
of water, using a Nixon pump and nozzle, the flexible rubber hose 
enabling one to thoroughly wet the under surface of the leaves. © 
The advantages of using hellebore in water are economy, and the 
ability to distribute to all parts of the plant, also to apply it at 
any time, whereas by the old method of dusting the poison on, 
there was a large waste, and it was necessary to apply it while the 
dew was on, or to wet the foliage in order to hold it long enough 
to be consumed by the insects. Currant bushes that were top- 
dressed with iron filings in 1888, as a repellant of currant worms 
were the first to become infested by them, and they were very 
numerous before they were discovered on other bushes. 
_A potato beetle, found in a hot-bed on the Station grounds, 
infested with its parasite, Uropoda Americana (Riley), was placed 
in a glass tube and ten other beetles added. The tube was kept 
in a warm room, and examined at intervals. In four days six of 
the ten had a few of the parasites attached to them, but the 
original beetle had lost many more than had obtained a hold of 
- the others, the remainder being in the tube apparently lifeless. 
In two weeks after, the parasites were all dead, and a few of the 
beetles. | : 
Professor Lintner* says that after the parasite becomes detached 
from the beetle it soon dies, not being able easily to regain its 
position. As the parasite is found in most cases on beetles in 
hot-beds, it will be an interesting study to undertake the culture — 
of them, but it is very doubtful if they can be increased in suffi- 
cient numbers to be of any practical value. } 
The spraying with potassium sulphide for mildew of the goose- 
berry has been continued this season with still more assured 
success. On May seventh, eight rows, each containing six plants, — he 
were operated on, four plants of each being sprayed, two of each 
being left for checks. The solution was one-half ounce potassium - 
sulphide to one gallon of water, applied with a Nixon pump and — 
nozzle. At this time the plants were entirely free from mildew. 
The second application was made May fifteenth, when the check 
plants showed slight signs of mildew. Again on the third of 
June they were sprayed, when the check plants were badly 
affected and continued so through the season, while those that . 
were sprayed retained their usual vigor and bore smooth, clean 
*Cultivator and Country Gentleman, June 13, 1888, p. 456. 
