surface of the leaves. The larvæ work in the leaf, between the upper skin and the lower, consuming the parenchyma. They are, when full grown, a quarter of an inch long, translucent in appearance, pointed at the head, which is furnished with black nippers, and truncated at the other extremity. To pupate they leave the plant and enter the soil. The pupa-case (puparium) is chestnut brown. From it the fly escapes in about twenty days. (See Dr. Lintner's 1st Annual Report on the Insects of New York State.)

The method of dealing with this insect is plainly to break off the affected leaves and to crush them under foot, or throw them into boiling water.

LICE (Order, Hemiptera).

THE BEAN LOUSE (Aphis faba ?).-A few years ago I found on some Mazagan beans that I was growing in my garden at Cowansville, a cluster of plant lice. They were lead-coloured and rather large. I had read of the marvellous increase of the Aphis, and I resolved to let these specimens on my beans live out their life and have their own way. The consequence was, that in a few weeks the whole row of beans-and it was a long one-was blackened with Aphides. This was quite in accordance with Reaumur's statement that one aphis can produce about 90 young ones, and that in five generations the increase from the one will amount to 594,900,000. As the season went on great numbers of the larvæ of one or two species of Lady-birds (Coccinellida) appeared on the scene and worked great havoc amongst the hosts of the enemy.

In dealing with a pest such as this, watchfulness and promptitude are required. The first clusters of the aphis should be picked off and destroyed.

THE CABBAGE LOUSE (Aphis brassica, Linnaeus).—This insect is often very abundant. It is found on the under side of cabbage leaves, and has a whitish, mealy appearance.

for it.

Dusting lightly with flour of brimstone has been recommended as a remedy

BEETLES (Order, Coleoptera).

THE COLORADO POTATO-BEETLE (Doryphora decem-lineata, Say).-This, the well-known Potato-Beetle (Fig. 12) needs no description. Under its normal con

α

b

d

d FIG. 12.

ditions, on the slopes of the Rocky Mountains, it fed upon the wild potato, Solanum rostratum. Access to the cultivated plant gave it that increase of vitality and fecundity which has rendered it so formidable a foe to the gardener.

Of the Solanaceae, or Nightshade family, to which the potato belongs, there are in North America six genera, not counting the South American genus, Petunia, now so largely cultivated in flower gardens. They are (1) Solanum, Nightshade; (2) Physalis, Ground Cherry; (3) Nicandra, Apple of Peru; (4) Hyoscyamus, Henbane; (5) Datura, Thorn-apple; (6) Nicotiana, Tobacco. The first of these includes the potato, the egg plant, and the tomato, all of which are eaten with avidity by the beetle. When stinted of its favourite supplies, the insect turns to such other members of the family as may grow within its reach. The tobacco plant is attacked by it, and I have found it also upon Physalis and Datura.

It would seem that the forced vitality of the species is now diminishing. There is a narrowing down apparently, 1st, as to the number of broods, 2ndly as to the number of individuals. Professor Claypole, of Akron, Ohio, brought the diminution in the former case, under the notice of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, at the Minneapolis meeting. He said:" This insect (the potato beetle) came as usual in middle Pennsylvania in the early summer. I was compelled to use poison as in previous years. In the latter portion of the summer I observed, and noted at the time in the Canadian Entomologist, that there was no second brood, or that it was so small as to pass unnoticed. It was my intention to watch in 1883 in order to determine if this second brood was again missing; but to my surprise, in 1883 there was almost no first brood."

In the neighbourhood of Quebec, late plowing, by disturbing their hibernacula, has destroyed great numbers of the beetles, and the lingering winter has retarded the appearance of the survivors, so that the first brood of the year has been both late and comparatively weak in numbers. For the last two seasons I have not had occasion to use Paris green on the early potatoes grown in my garden, but later-planted field crops have called for an application of the drug. The decrease in the number of perfect beetles appearing in the fall has been very marked.

THE THREE-LINED POTATO-BEETLE (Lema trilineata, Olivier). This is a buff-coloured beetle, (Fig. 13) having three black stripes on the wing covers. Its length is a quarter of an inch. It appears in June, and attacks the potato plants. It lays its yellow eggs in small clusters, and in a fortnight the larvæ appear (Fig 14). They are of a dirty yellowish grey, and are generally seen with a thick coating of excrementa on their backs. This filthy covering is believed to serve for a defence against their insect enemies, and as a protection also from the heat of the sun. In about another fortnight the insects bury themselves in the ground and form cysts in which to undergo their pupal change. In a fortnight more the perfect beetles appear and lay their eggs for a second brood.

FIG 13.

d

FIG. 14.

α

Paris green applied in the usual way is the remedy for these pests.

THE CUCUMBER BEETLE (Diabrotica vittata, Fab.).-The cucumber beetle is about two lines in length. It is yellow, and has a black head, and three black lines running along the wing-covers. The larvæ feed on the roots, and the perfect insects on the tender leaves of the cucumber, melon and squash.

To destroy the larvæ water the plants with soapsuds, and to check the operations of the beetle sprinkle the leaves with hardwood ashes.

THE STRIPED FLEA-BEETLE (Haltica striolata, Illiger).-This minute beetle (Fig. 15) is black, with a buff stripe on each wing cover.

It

is beautifully formed, highly polished and very lively. It hibernates in the imago state, and comes forth early in spring to lay its eggs, and to enjoy itself at the gardener's expense. Its favourite food plant is the turnip.

Lime water has been used successfully against its English congener. To disappoint the "flea" sow late.

FIG 15.

THE ASH-COLOURED BLISTER-BEETLE (Macrobasis unicolor, Kirby).-In the Eastern Townships the Windsor beans and potato vines are often infested with an ash-grey beetle of about three-fifths of an inch in length. The ash colour is owing to a soft down which rubs off leaving the surface black. This beetle is one of the Cantharides, and is as efficacious for medical purposes as the "Spanish Fly." It may be easily shaken into a pan of scalding water, and afterwards dried for medical use.

BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS (Order, Lepidoptera).

THE CABBAGE BUTTERFLY (Pieris rapa, Linnaeus).-That destructive pest the cabbage butterfly (Fig. 16 the male, fig. 17 the female) was first taken in Canada by Mr. Wm. Couper of Quebec. This was in 1860. The insect had probably been cast upon the shores of the St. Lawrence in the larval or pupal stage, with refuse cabbages from the steamships. We are indebted to Mr. Scudder for a full and most interesting account of the after progress of the species on this continent. From this account it appears that in 1866 it had spread to Cacouna, where it was taken by Mr. Saunders, to the Eastern Townships, where I captured it myself,

and into the State of Maine. In 1867 it reached Montreal. In 1867 it reached Montreal. In 1868 a fresh importation by way of New York was made. The story runs that a German naturalist in that city obtained chrysalides from Europe, and that the imagos issued from these during his absence, and escaped through an open window. The insects spread in ever widening curves, both from New York and Quebec, till, in 1871, the two hordes met. In 1876 they had spread over the whole of Western Ontario. In 1881 they covered the country from the seaboard to Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, and Lake Superior; and by 1884 they had been met with on the shores of Hudson's Bay and at the foot of the Rocky Mountains.

Pieris rapa may be readily distinguished from the less common native white (Pieris oleracea, Harris) by the black spots upon its wings. The female may be constantly seen in the summer months hovering over the cabbages, curving its abdomen and attaching its eggs dispersedly upon the plants. The larvæ are green irrorated with black. They have the habit of lying along the ribs of the leaves where they are not readily seen.

Dr. Lintner recommends sprinkling with water heated to 130 Fahr. and upwards (1st An. Rep. p. 59).

THE CABBAGE PLUSIA (Plusia brassica, Riley).-This insect has at length invaded the Province of Quebec. It has been taken at Metis by Mr. Winn. Its numbers will probably increase. The fore wings of the moth are brownish grey, and have yellowish, indistinct, transverse lines. In the centre of each fore wing is a silvery, horse-shoe-like mark, with a silvery spot beyond it at the lower side. The hind wings are yellowish, with smoky hind margins. The male moth is furnished with conspicuous abdominal side tufts of a golden hue.

The larva is a half-looper, having only twelve legs. Its head is small and flat, and the body is gradually enlarged from it to the anal segment, which appears as if abruptly sliced off. In colour the caterpillar is translucent pale green, marked with delicate longitudinal white lines, and with white spots. In each of the latter is set a short dark hair.

The pupa is of a pale colour, yellowish or green, and is enclosed in a slight

cocoon.

Besides the cabbage, the turnip, lettuce, celery and tomato afford food for this pest.

An application of hot water as recommended in the previous case, is probably the best remedy for the assaults of the insect.

THE CUT-WORM MOTHS.-These are a numerous family, including species belonging to the genera, Agrotis, Mamestra, Hadena, etc. They may be grouped as climbing and surface cut-worms. It is with the latter I am for my present purpose, more particularly concerned. I shall give a short account of a few representative species of these, and for further particulars would refer the reader to a valuable paper written by the late Mr. G. J. Bowles, which may be found in the Society's Annual Report for 1879.

THE DEVASTATING DART-MOTH (Hadena devastatrix, Brace)-This moth is one and three-fourths inches in expanse of wings. The fore wings are dark brownish gray, and have several whitish_transverse lines. Near the hind margin is a row of arrow-headed black spots pointing towards the base of the wing. The hind wings are light brownish grey. The thorax is dark grey like the fore wings and the abdomen is of the same colour as the hind wings. The caterpillar, (Fig. 18) known as the "Glassy Cut-Worm," has a translucent glassy-green body, a Venetian-red head, and a darkbrown cervical shield. It has a few scattered spots on each segment-each spot being furnished with a single hair. The caterpillar hibernates in the soil, and, coming out early in the spring, commences its destructive work upon the newly-planted cabbages. It feeds only at night, and lies hid in the soil, near the root of the plant, during the day.

FIG. 18.

THE BARRED-ARCHES MOTH (Hadena amica, Harris).—This beautiful moth expands about two inches. The ground colour of its fore wings is rich Spanish brown. Near the hind margin is a broad, wavy, bluish-grey band, and near the base of the wing is a narrower and darker wavy band. The reniform stigma (kidney-shaped spot in the middle of the wing) is large and distinct. The hind wings are ash-coloured, clouded on the outer margin.

The caterpillar which is called the "Yellow-headed Cut-worm," is of a smokybrown colour, and the head, cervical shield, and anal plate are yellow, or chestnutcoloured. This creature cuts off the young corn below the surface of the ground.

THE LANCE RUSTIC MOTH (Agrotis telifera, Harris). (Ypsilon, Rott).Harris was the first to describe this fine insect, which measures an inch and a half in expanse of wings. (Fig. 19.) The fore wings are brown, dark along the costa and through the middle. Near the hind margin is a light-brown band, and at the base of the wing is a light-brown patch, shaped like the head of a fish with the mouth open. Pointing outwardly from the reniform stigma is a black lance-shaped mark. The hind wings of the moth are pearly white shaded with brown.

FIG. 19.

The caterpillar known as the "Greasy Cut-worm," is dull leaden brown, spotted with shiny black. Its dorsal and side lines are yellowish. The creature is highly destructive to corn, tobacco, tomatoes, etc., cutting the plants an inch above the ground.

THE CLANDESTINE OWLET MOTH (Agrotis clandestina, Harris).-In expanse of wings this moth measures an inch and three-quarters. It is a very sobercoloured moth. The fore wings are dark ashen, In them the orbicular and reniform stigmata are connected by a black line. The hind wings are dirty brownishwhite, darker towards the hind margin. The fore part of the body is chestnut brown. The moth received its name from its retiring habits and attempts at concealment.

The caterpillar (Fig. 20) is called the " W-marked Cut-worm." It is yellowish

FIG. 20.

grey in colour, lined with yellow, and finely sprinkled with dark spots. On each side of the back, upon the abdominal segments, is a row of black velvety marks. These marks, when viewed from the front, are suggestive of the letter W -hence the common name of the creature.

Nothing in the way of vegetables seems to come amiss to this cut-worm; beans, young corn, cabbage, pumpkins, etc., all are eagerly eaten by it. It has the habit of dragging its food under stones or into the ground, that it may feed upon it at leisure.

The methods to be pursued for protecting garden crops from the cut-worms appear to me to be these:-Because the caterpillars pass from plant to plant over the surface of the earth, and will not ascend a friable mound corn should be "planted in the hill." Around each newly-planted cabbage a ring of salt should be placed, a few inches from the stem. The larvæ will not pass over this, and the salt will act as a fertilizer. Whenever a plant is found to be nipped off, the cause of the damage should be dug for at the root with a knife or pointed stick, and when found, destroyed. Growing corn, cabbages, cauliflowers, tomatoes, etc., should be earthed up several times during their period of growth.

"The Husbandman's Own Insectide." Take plants of "poison poke," (Veratrum viride, Aiton) roots, stems and leaves, cut them into manageable lengths, make a decoction-a sap-kettle will be useful for the purpose-let the liquor cool, and then apply with a sprinkler or water-can. This will be found useful where the application of Paris green would be dangerous.

The gardener has a multitude of insect foes to contend with, but prompt and intelligent applications of preventives and remedies are very sure to be rewarded with success against them.