‘260 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. {1 Ocr., 1902. 
~The Orchard. 
GRASSHOPPER FUNGUS. 
Mr. C. French, F.L.S., Entomologist to the Victorian Government, has 
eommunicated the following interesting information, concerning the preparation 
and distribution of the fungus used at the Cape for the extermination of locusts, 
to Garden and Field :— 
This specific has been used at the Cape for some time for the locust pest, 
and always proved effectual. Mr. French hit upon the idea of experimenting 
on grasshoppers, with the satisfactory result as before mentioned. 
Full directions for using the fungus are issued with each tube supplied to 
Victorian producers at the offices of Mr. French, Law Court Buildings, Lonsdale 
street, Melbourne. 
The following are the notes by the Government Entomologist on the 
preparation of locust fungus, and use of same in infecting locusts and grass- 
hoppers :— 
Preparation o—F Warer Funaus. 
Ist. Place two teaspoonfuls of sugar in a tumbler, open a tube, and 
remove the fungus contents entire; place this in the sugar, and rub the whole 
together with a spoon until the material is rou ery broken up and mixed 
with the sugar. Then dissolve this thoroughly with three-quarters of a 
tumblerful of water which has previously been boiled and allowed to cool; 
float in this three or four pieces of cork which have been previously boiled and 
allowed to cool, then cover the tumbler with a piece of paper, and place it ina 
warm corner of the house until the fungus is seen to be growing around the 
pieces of cork. A temperature of anything fron 70 degrees upwards will 
eause the fungus to develop in two or three days. The fungus is then ready 
for use. 
To DisrrireuTe. 
2nd. Make a hoop-net, about 2 feet in diameter, of any gauze-like material, 
about 2 inches deep, with a handle attached. In this capture the locusts, and 
dip them into the fungus contents of the tumbler. After a thorough immersion, 
then take them out, and liberate them; repeat with more locusts, and so on 
until the glass or vessel has been emptied of its contents. Infect towards 
evening, and, if possible, when there has been or there are indications of rain. 
Next, smear patches of grass where the locusts are feeding with the fungus ; 
also capture quantities of Jocusts, and confine them in a box along with some 
of their favourite food, which has previously been smeared with the fungus. 
Water fungus is not so effective in confinement as bread fungus. The bread 
fungus is more easily smeared over their food. Keep the box under conditions 
as near to the natural as possible, as locusts will die if too closely confined. In 
two or three days liberate the lot among a swarm, and repeat again. 
To Make Brean Funevus. 
8rd. Take about 1 lb. of white bread, which is fairly stale, and then grate 
it into a coarse powder. Place a cupful in a basin, and add enough water to 
make a watery paste (water must be previously boiled and cooled) ; add to this 
the contents of one tube of fungus, aoe mix with the paste (no sugar is 
required), place a covering over the basin, if flies are numerous, and keep it in 
a warm place, same as for water fungus, and in two or three days the fungus 
will be seen growing over the surface of the paste. It is now ready for use. 
