the branches, is a somewhat effectual, but very laborious remedy. At the Agricultural College, we take great pains to encourage the presence of birds in our groves, and aside from the pleasure which we derive from their cheerful presence, we find them a powerful auxiliary against insects. I think they have greatly aided in ridding us of the Dryocampa. Farmers, do not destroy the birds! We expressed the opinion in the Western Rural, that these insects could not destroy the tree, coming so late in the season. At an unusually large meeting of the Boston Entomological Society, a few evenings since, I stated the question, and nearly all the members expressed the emphatic opinion that they could not greatly injure the trees.

In many parts of Michigan, the tomato worm-larvæ of the Sphinx quinqua-maculata-have been frightfully abundant, doing much mischief. This fine, green larvæ, with its terminal spine and oblique, lateral stripes, the brown pupa, just beneath the surface of the earth, with the to-be sucking-tube of the imago incased in a jug-handle shaped tube, and the fine gray moth expanding several inches, are all too well known to need description. A peculiarity in the larvae during the past summer, consists in the fact that a large mumber were nearly black, instead of green. Otherwise, the marks were as usual. As great an observer as Professor Agassiz, tells me that he has never seen an example of this kind.

Another item of interest was developed at the Agricultural College: the fact that hosts of the pups were taken from beneath the ground by skunks; the soil among the tomato plants being full each morning of little conical holes where these marauders had exhumed their prey. Thus, if we are fond of tomatoes, it is unkind to indulge any prejudice against these benefactors. The best remedy against these insects, is to hand-pick the larvæ. Great quantities were picked from the vines at the College, during the summer. No one need fear to pick them, as they are entirely harmless, and to one who relishes this vegetable, the work soon becomes easy and pleasant.

The larvæ of the codling moth-Carpocapsa pomonella Linnæus, though far less troublesome than in 1867, has been quite a nuisance during the past season. This beautiful moth, expanding scarce half an inch, deposits a single egg on the blow of the apple. From these eggs are hatched the white caterpillars, with brown heads-so familiar to all. After reveling in the juicy pulp of the apple for three or four weeks, becoming grown and turning to a reddish hue, they leave the fruit, crawl into some crevice or concealed spot, spin themselves a silken cloak, and assume the pupa condition.

Of course, all windfalls should be immediately fed to the hogs, as they generally fall before the larvæ leave them, unless, forsooth, some economical farmer wishes to save the apples for cider, in which case they should be ground and the juice expressed as soon as they fall, which I dare say will answer quite as well as keeping swine in the orchard. The Western Rural, in 1867, copied from the Country Gentleman, Dr. Trimble's method: to wind the tree with hay. The cocoons would be spun in this, and could be destroyed wholesale. It is stated that over a thousand were collected from one tree in a single season. This, no doubt would be excellent, if all would follow it. Mr. Walsh says that he has raised this moth from larvæ formed in the pear.

The tent caterpillar-Clisiocampa Americana, of Dr. Harris, either from increased vigilance on the part of fruit culturists, from parasites or other cause, has become very greatly decreased in numbers, though the wild cherry trees of our forests were well filled during the summer. Thus, the direful cause of injury incalculable, is still among us. Let no farmer fail to exterminate the very last of these insects, either by cutting and burning the branches upon which the clusters of eggs are so nicely glued; or, what is not so pleasant, by crushing the larvæ after they are hatched and begin spreading their nets.

Perhaps one of the greatest insect pests in Michigan, at the present time, is the oyster-shell bark-louse-Aspidiotus conchi

formis Gmelin. Who of us has not seen trees literally covered with this scale-like insect? And yet, very few know their history. Under the scales, from September till May, there are numerous small white eggs, which hatch in the last days of May. The larvæ, hardly visible without a lens, have a beak and six legs; move slowly for five or six days, and are of a yellow color. They then become attached to the bark, lengthen greatly behind, assuming by the last of August, that pearshape form which ever after characterizes them. The male is quite different, being smaller, possessing wings when grown, and doing little harm.

The remedies for this evil are only less numerous than the individuals which enact it. I know a farmer in Shiawassee county who has a beautiful young orchard, free from lice. He washes the trees in lye each summer. Therefore, lye is a never-failing cure; whereas, Mr. Walsh has proved that though the applying of this may be of service, the lye is never of any use. Mr. Will. W. Tracy, Instructor in Horticulture at the Agricultural College, tells me that trees that were considerably affected a few years since, have recovered without anything being done. Therefore, no disturbance is a certain antidote for the evil. The more probable truth in this case is that the disappearance comes from some parasite, very likely the mite -Acarus-described by Mr. Walsh. Farmers are apt to generalize too hastily, from which arises all sorts of ill-founded beliefs, as in regard to equinoctial storms, moonshine in regard to planting, &c. This blind generalization, with no reason nor correct experiment for a basis, often involves great expense. Farmers, let us beware of all these humbugs; ever acting upon intelligence and reason, and not upon a result that is accidental, or rests upon a single experiment, where a score of other agents may act either alone, or in conjunction with the one used.

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Mr. Walsh, in his first report as Entomologist of Illinois, shows that neither lye, nor any alkaline solution, nor tobacco

water, will in the least avail; while strong soap-suds, used as a wash just after the insects have hatched, is very sure to destroy them. Oily substances, as kerosene, will always kill any insect, or the vitality of any egg which it surely touches. Scrubbing with a harsh brush is excellent, if done when the young are just hatched, but has no effect on the scale. Of course, it is always well to scrape the scales off with a hoe, or other tool.

I disagree with Mr. Walsh, that good culture is of no service. I know of trees that have been quite badly affected for some years, yet are still vigorous and healthy. First rate care is ever useful in aiding vegetables to bear up against the evils that they are heir to.

The wooly lice - Pemphigus-which have so covered the beech during the past summer, and which are so very courtesyous, are, I think, more comical than dangerous; though if some mishap does not overtake them, they must suck much of the vitality from the beautiful beeches of our forests.

It is to be hoped that our farmers who have an excellent opportunity for observing, will improve it to the fullest. Be sure to preserve specimens of every injurious insect, and rest not till you know its character and history, in full. I will say, that any insect will be thankfully received at the Agricultural College, at Lansing, and, if possible, any desired information will be cheerfully afforded through the public press.

THE COLORADO POTATOE-BEETLE.

DOWAGIAC, January, 1869. HON. SANFORD HOWARD-Yours of the 28th ult., requesting me to forward to you the results of my observations on the Ten-striped Potatoe Beetle, for the year 1868, &c., has been received, and I hasten to comply with your request. I do not know that I can do better than to enclose to you the daily journal which I kept through the season, in which you will perhaps find matter more to your purpose, than anything which I might compose outside of it. I commenced the journal with

the following objects in view: To ascertain the general habits of the insect; and, second, the best mode of warding off its ravages.

April 22. I planted village lot 112, to peach-blow potatoes. I planted early for the purpose of testing the truth of Mr. Barnard's statement made to me, September, 1867, that the ravages of the beetles were mostly confined to the yards planted earliest; and consequently that those planted later would mostly escape. On the first of May I planted an acre lot, with peach-blow and Neshannock potatoes, nearly opposite, across the street from the first lot. The difference of time between the two plantings was not so great as I could have wished, for the purpose intended; but still, in connection with other yards in town, planted still later, I had a fair opportunity of noting results.

May 25. Potatoes on lot 112 up, so as to show the rows. The beetles have already commenced making lodgments. It appears that on emerging from their winter quarters, and not finding their appropriate food near them, they rise on the wing to the height of eight or ten feet, and strike a "bee line " for a potatoe patch. I saw one to-day, for the first time on the wing. They fly heavily, but make a very pretty appearance. When they have made a lodgment and found their mates, they show but little disposition to roam further, but commence at once the work of propagation. They do not, however, commence to deposit their eggs, until three or four days from the time they emerge from the ground. From this time I visited the lot for several days in succession, and came to the conclusion that there were not many of them, and that if these were destroyed, there would be but little further trouble during the rest of the season.

June 17. I was at Decatur and found quite a number of beetles on some early planted potatoes, in the yard of Mr. Austin Barney, the first ever observed in the town. This is about twelve miles north-east from Dowagiac. On my return home I visited lot 112, and found several hills alive with theˆ