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mrt. No. 9. 
4 
December 1, 1913. 


























el the May number of the News-Letter reference was made to the 
ing of numbers of Aphidius testaceipes by Mr. Urbahns at the 
endale, Cal., station and their consignment to the secretary for 
£ ' the Crown Agents for the Colonies in London and their further con- 
ont to their destination in British East Africa. It is with 
sonsiderable regret that we give below a report of Mr. Thomas J. 
Inderson, Entomologist for British East Africa. The outcome, however, 
bf this experiment will be of interest to all members of the division. 
"he consignment of Aphidius arrived in June. It is now Septem- 
D6r and not a single specimen has yet hatched. As soon as the boxes 
irrived I took the contents out and placed’ them under glass jars, in 
the shade, in order to notice when hatching began. I had pots of 
mieéat and other plants ready covered with aphides and on the first 
signs of hatching I intended to transfer the Wheat with the parasi- 
tised aphides to the pots which had gauze covers ready. I have dis- 
ected many parasitised aphides ana in every case the parasite was 
dead. The boat was met on its arrival and the box was brought 
straight here, without being opened at the Coast. 
HT know you will be very disappointed and I am very sorry indeed 
that the trial has not met with success, especially after all the 
trouble you and Doctor Howard have taken. I do not know what can 
have happened. 
"On the other hand I find aphides here very well parasitised 
biready and Texoptera has not made any headway this last season. 
» “ZI must apologize for not answering your last letter sooner 
put I was hoping against hope that some parasites would hatch and 
moat I could let you have a favorable report." 
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, OFFICE OF CHIEF CLERK. 
WASHINGTON, D. C. 
4 November 18, 1913. 
MW. L. O. Howard, Chief, | 
Bureau of Entomology. 
fashington City Postmaster. Please take such action as is possible 
ithout detriment to the public service to comply with Mr. Merritt's 
request. 
= Very respectfully, 
q (Signed) ‘R. M, Keese, 
the Chief Clerk of the Department of Agriculture. 
art: 
y If not inconsistent with the public service, I beg leave to request 
img the period from December 18 to 24, 1913, inclusive, to enable the 
Musiness, the amount of which I anticipate will be very heavy. 
3 Very respectfully, 
7 : (Signed) WN. A. Merritt, 
2 Postmaster." 
sar Sir: I quote below a letter just received from Mr. N. As Merritt, 
hat the dispatch of supplies and official printed matter from your De- 
j@rtment, both ordinary and registered, be curtailed to the minimum dur- 
mployees of this office to more satisfactorily cope with the Christmas 
