The New Insectary

Recognizing the necessity of facilities for rearing insects in a situation where alt external conditions could be controlled, as well as of a suitable place for keeping the collections and apparatus of the department the board of trustees last year authorized the construction of a building for the entomological department. This was occupied about June 25. It is a structure 16x32 feet in size, with wing 12 feet square. In the main part is the general office and work room, 16 feet square, a well finished room, provided with desk, tables, balances, shelves for collections, etc. Here are kept a general collection of all orders of insects, chiefly collected in this locality; some economic collections, showing the transformations, work and parasites of some of the common injurious insects; samples of various insecticides, and a few bee supplies. The rearing-room, or insectary proper, occupies the remainder of the main part of the building. It is an unfinished room with dirt floor, lighted by five large windows. It is as yet but partially fitted up, owing to the fact that the rearing season was almost past when we moved into the building last spring. Breeding cages and other devices for this line of work will be in operation this year. The wing on the east side of the main building is devoted to bee-keeping and storage of machinery, etc. The bees are placed on a low shelf along the side of the room, the faces of the hives toward the outside. Horizontal slits through the wall, one immediately in front of each hive, give the bees egress. This arrangement is called a house apiary, and presents several advantages, in our circumstances. The hives are safe from violent winds and are in a very convenient place for working with them, as by .nearly closing the door the room can be darkened until the bees will not fly in it