enemy, and soon after another, overtook and attacked the potato bug: first they were found dead in the patches with a greater or less abundance of fungoid growth in and around their bodies, and a short time after, were found killed in large numbers by an exceedingly minute louse or parasite. About this time or earlier, it was found that applications of Paris green, in mechanical solution, would prevent the ravages of the beetle and it was at once resorted to by our more progressive farmers, and soon by nearly all who attempted to cultivate the crop. Since then the injury committed has been reduced to its minimum and one of our largest potato growers stated, at one of our farmers' institutes, that the beetle had been a blessing to him and had been the means of his making a large amount of money upon the potato crop; his neighbors did not fight the beetle and he did, and thus had an open market for his crop.

So firmly was I impressed with this condition of affairs that, in my report of last year I used the following language:

"All of our fruit and farm crops are subject to injuries resulting from the introduction of insect pests and fungoid diseases, but their history, thus far, without exception, has been that for a few years they inflict a maximum amount of injury, but that after a short term, their natural enemies overtake them and the injury is reduced to a minimum, which is only interfered with when, from some unexplained cause, these natural enemies are present in smaller numbers, and thus fail to hold the original insect in check. The maximum of injury seldom occurs two years in succession and the succeeding season is marked by a limited number of insects."

During the recent meeting of the Society of Economic Zoologists, at Detroit, Prof. P. H. Rolfs, of the Florida Experiment Station, called the attention of the society to the fungoid enemies of the San Jose scale, and gave a full and interesting account of his propogation of the fungous growth and the subsequent rapid destruction of the scale by its dessemination.

Prof. Rolfs informed the convention that his attention had been called to the fact that the scale was, at least in spots, disappearing from the orchard of Dr. Funiak; several reasons were assigned to ac court for this destruction of the scale; some contended that it was due to the hard freeze of two or three years previous; the unusual condition of the weather was also suggested as a cause with which to account for the effect; others claimed that the death of the insects might be attributed to a severe drought which prevailed in that portion of Florida at that time.

After that careful examination which always goes with the training received by those who are employed at our Experiment Stations. Prof. Rolfs was convinced that the peculiar condition of these somewhat isolated spots was due to some natural enemy which had destroyed the scale so far as its effects extended.

Reasoning from the usual character of fungoid diseases, Prof. Rolfs removed branches with the diseased scale insects, to orchards in which the scale was not yet diseased, and tied them close to and parallel with the limbs most thickly inhabited by the scale; of the result Dr. Rolfs writes as follows: "The orange colored prominences could be detected on many scales within twenty inches of the infested stick, and the stick had not (after the lapse of six weeks) lost its virtue."

Dr. Rolfs next step was to devise some means by which this fungoid enemy could be rapidly and cheaply propogated in cultures and thus prepared for dissemination to any point at which the San Jose scale existed. Bread which had been purposely prepared and soured was selected as the material in which to produce and increase the spores of the fungus, and the results were all that had been expected. Several other mediums were tried; the usual one of gelatin was tested, but given up for the acid bread; potatoes were also given a trial, but nothing gave as satisfactory results as the bread.

After the propogation of the spores had been brought to a point of success which warranted further steps, a series of experiments were instituted in which plum, peach and other infected trees were "inoculated" by the spores on the bread preparation.

Dr. Rolfs thus reports the results of these tests:

1. That so many of the experiments turned out favorably, substantiates the former expectation that the material might be grown artificially.

2. The material can be produced in great quantities, and its applica tions to insects is as easily accomplished as a single spraying with an insecticide.

3. It is more thorough than insecticides.

4. While it is nature's own remedy for striking a balance in Florida, it will doubtless be less effective in other localities and in dryer climates.

5. The orchardist who may not be a scientist can apply it properly. 6. The fungus is widely disseminated on a native scale, insuring a constant source of new material.

7. The fungus multiplies many fold more rapidly than the San Jose scale.

8. The rain washes the fungus and dead scale from the trees, leaving no sign of the tree having been diseased, except where the scale have done injury.

Dr. Rolfs states that the spores of these fungi, especially in a damp and moist time, multiply with wonderful rapidity, and if they once obtain lodgment will keep in advance of the San Jose scale and sooner or later either destroy or hold it completely in check. Under but moderately favorable conditions the spores begin to increase with great

rapidity in six weeks after the inoculation, but under more favorable surroundings, the effect is shown in much less time.

The spores of this fungus, as is the case with most of its class, passes through various stages of growth, in none of which it is capable of withstanding any reasonable amount of drought; in another it seems to be able to bear without injury very low temperatures, and that, during certain seasons its multiplication, naturally is not confined to insects as a media but is carried on through surrounding objects of its own selection.

In summarizing the results of his experiments and of his experience with fungus growth, generally, Dr. Rolfs, writes thus:

1. It has been definitely established that insects are subject to dis

ease.

2. Diseases of insects have been, and are being employed to destroy insect pests.

3. Some diseases of insect pests may be disseminated artificially with profit.

4. This disease of the San Jose scale is present on at least three continents and in many countries. In several instances it is recorded as an important factor in controlling scale insects.

5. It is doubtless a native of Florida, as it occurs on native scale, în our hammocks.

6. This fungus may be transferred to trees infected with San Jose scale and a disease produced among the scales.

7. Large quantities of material may be produced in the laboratory in a short time and at a slight expense.

8. The laboratory grown material may be applied successfully by fruit growers.

9. This fungus cleared orchards more effectively of San Jose scale than could have been done by many sprayings.

10. It is now being tested north and south.

There appears to be a wide difference of opinion among practical entomologists as to the possibility of preventing the ravages of the San Jose scale; Prof. J. B. Smith, of the New Jersey Experiment Station, writes: "It has been charged, and not without some show of reason, that entomologists and some others are losing their heads in the matter of dealing with this insect (San Jose scale), and that there is an unnecessary and somewhat hysterical excitement created by an overabundance of lurid talk accompanied by an absence of careful study and work. The charge is not without some show of reason, for, after all, what basis is there for all the fuss that has been made? It is about time that the subject was considered carefully and without excitement, lest the reaction, when it comes as it inevitably must, destroy confidence in the warnings of the entomologist altogether.”

Mr. Smith also states that the San Jose scale is not any more difli

cult to kill than some of our native scales, and that "on some trees in fested by both San Jose and "scurfy" scales winter treatment killed nearly all the pernicious form (San Jose), while the trees are now coated with the common species which the application left unharmed."

Prof. Smith gives the following mode of treatment with which he has had practical experience:

"After January 1, and at any time before the trees become in the least active, spray with pure kerosene of the ordinary 150 degree test. Be thorough, but not wasteful; use enough to make a film of kerosene capable of penetrating into the smallest crevice; but let that film be of the thinnest posible description. Do the work on a dry, bright day with enough air stirring to favor rapid evaporation and do it yourself, or at least superintend, so that carelessness in the application be not charged against the insecticide as inefficiency."

Prof. Smith states that on smooth barked trees whale oil soap, at the rate of two pounds to one gallon of water will do almost as well, but that it will not answer on rough bark trees.

Of this treatment with kerosene Dr. Webster of Ohio writes: "The San Jose scale is not spreading in Ohio so far as I know, but is being exterminated wherever its introduction has become known. In two orchards near New Richmond, Ohio, kerosene in an undiluted form has been used with marked success, both last year and this, without the least injury to the trees, either apple or peach. I am unwilling to recommend this treatment for general use as yet, but the results gained as against the San Jose scale are so valuable that I give the details with the hope that equally good results may be obtained elsewhere during other years."

In writing to a correspondent who has used the kerosene, Dr. Webster received a reply from which the following is an extract:

"The kerosene (clear coal oil such as we use in our lamps) which we used, was applied principally in the month of February when the ground was frozen. We applied it with a small varnish brush to some small trees, to the entire tree and on others only to the limbs that were most affected. My brother used a barrel sprayer, applying forty gallons of pure coal oil on 500 apple trees and fifteen peach trees. part of the orchard he sprayed a second time."

A

The informant further adds that the trees, to which an application was made two years ago, are in excellent condition, have made fine growth and are as smooth as if varnished.

BRANDING CHEESE.

The act of June 23, 1897, which went into effect August 23, provides, by its second section, as follows:

"All cheese manufactured or sold within this Commonwealth shall be divided into five grades, and shall be branded or stenciled, in ordinary bold faced letters, not less than one inch in height, on two sides of each cheese, and upon the top and bottom of the box or case containing the cheese, the manufacturer's name and postoffice address and the words "Full Cream," "Three-fourths Cream," "One-half Cream," "One-fourth Cream," and "Skimmed Cheese." All cheese branded "Full Cream" shall contain not less than thirty-two per centum of butter-fat as may appear by proper test. All cheese branded "Threefourths Cream" shall contain not less than twenty-four per centum of butter-fat as may appear upon proper test. All cheese branded “Onehalf Cream" shall contain not less than sixteen per centum of butterfat as may appear upon proper test. All cheese branded "One-fourth Cream" shall contain not less than eight per centum of butter-fat as may appear upon proper test. And all cheese containing less than eight per centum of butter-fat, as may appear upon proper test, shall be branded "Skimmed Cheese."

The provisions of this section place unnecessary work upon the manufacturers of and dealers in cheese, and its provisions are not made sufficiently clear. During the time the law has been in effect the Department has had more or less trouble in getting the manufac turers and agents to brand their cheese so that it is not removed by the retail dealer before the cheese is cut. Many of both classes claim that the only sides of the cheese were the circular edges and therefore they place their brand directly upon the band which surrounds the cheese; this was removed by retail dealers before the cheese was cut and hence more or less trouble occurred between the agents of the Department and the dealers in reference to the questions as to whether the cheese had been properly branded or not. It was claimed by the officers of the Department that the top and bottom were just as much "sides of the cheese" as were the circular portion, and hence all dealers were requested to notify manufacturers to brand their cheese near the centre, on the top and bottom, and thus allow the retail dealer to have a portion of the brand upon the last piece left in his hands.

This section also places unnecessary labor and trouble on both manufacturer and dealer by making too many grades of cheese; the laws of nearly or quite all other states require but two grades, and