62 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 
16 pounds of finely broken stale white bread, 1 pound of Paris 
green and enough water to make a mixture which will run through 
the fingers) spread broadcast over lawns and gardens between May 
rsth and June 15th is a very effective control measure. There should 
be two or three such treatments at intervals of three or four nights. 
He also suggests that plants which show signs of having been eaten 
should be sprayed at this time with arsenate of lead, using 6 pounds 
to 50 gallons of water, and taking care to cover the young leaves. 
After July 1st, if the insects are still abundant, the author advises 
spraying at night with a contact insecticide, such as the tobacco 
soap preparation, repeated every three nights until the numbers are 
reduced and applied in sufficient quantities to wet the insects 
thoroughly. This should be supplemented by similar applications 
in the daytime to cracks and crevices where the insects are found in 
concealment. The pests can be trapped in flowerpots containing 
excelsior and inverted over 9 inch stakes set in the ground close to 
plants and vines where the insects are most numerous. They should 
be put every 10 or 12 feet along the borders or near vines. The 
earwigs can be destroyed by shaking the excelsior over a pail con- 
taining kerosene and water. A more detailed account of this insect 
is found in Bulletin 566 of the United States Department 
of Agriculture. 
European springtail (Isotoma minuta Tullb.). Numerous 
samples, a tablespoonful or thereabouts, of these minute springtails 
were received under date of June 7th from Mr McPhillips of Red 
Hook, accompanied by the statement that they were discovered on 
the ground and plants in and about a hotbed. The species was 
kindly determined through the courtesy of Prof. J. W. Folsom of 
the University of Hlinois, who informs us that it is a well-known 
European species recorded from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, 
Scotland, Germany, Italy and Siberia and not previously reported 
from this country, though he has received specimens from Penn- 
sylvania, Illinois, Kansas and Canada. 
These little wingless insects are a dull bluish gray, about one- 
twenty-fifth of an inch long and sometimes occur in exceedingly 
large numbers. They live mostly upon decaying organic matter or 
such valueless plants as lichens, and only occasionally are members 
of this group injurious to plants. They can be easily destroyed in 
hotbeds or on restricted areas by the liberal use of hot water, a 
solution of hellebore, pyrethrum or tobacco extract, such, for example, 
as nicotine sulphate (40 per cent nicotine) used at the rate of three- 
