Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-07
one Of them 10 being attacked by some sort Of
bug. Here experiments are made with insccti-

TEE COLUMBIAN rNHrprT.
The damage done 10 useful plants by insects
is to be exhibited at the Columbian exposition
in very picturesque fashion. The bureau Of
entomology has prepared for this purpose q
series of illustrative models, showing various
bugs In the act OF attacking vegetal growthS
These counterfeit nature srtfully that II
Is hard TO realize that both insects and Plants
are not living. For example, one II them
represents potato plant swer1ning with po-
tato bugs, some in the larval stage aud others
tull-grown striped beetles. On one of the
leaves big green tiger beetle Is seen
approaching potato bug and on the
point of devouring him. On another branch
queer-lookirg brown insect has thrust It's
proooscis into larval potato bug and ia suck
ing its life ont In the air just above the plant
hovers fierce soldier hy. about 20 pounce
upon potato bug. These predictions insects
are the most active destroyers OF the potato
eating pest
Similar models will show the tomato worm
attacking the tomato plant, leaf-rolnng cater
pillars on grapevine. cotton worms eating
the cotton plant. hu:ed scale bugs feeding On
the orange tree. 6c. The biggest Is seven feet
high, representing hill Of standing corn. Ii IL
corn that will never ripen satisfactorily. since
every part Of il is being proved on. The ears
are infested by the boil worm. chnchbugs ATE
assaillng the stalks and g-asshoppcrs are eating
the leaves. The chronological exhibit will also
include an assemblage Of real insects of species
which are injurious to agriculture. mounted
IN cases IN series. so TO show their
transformations and the parasites which devour
them. Actual specimens Of fruits. foliage &c.
destroyed by them will be on view likewise
incidentally a collection OF spiders native TO
this country, which have no economic impor-
lance. will be displayed. including the giant
arachnids OF New Mexico and Iexas that catch
birds and sometimes fishes
Uncle Jerry Rusk's idea is that the exhibit Of
the Department of Agriculture should be pic
turesque. SO as 70 interest the farmers. At his
suggestion a number of mounted groups rep
resenting beasts of economic importance have
been prepared-such as coyote killing a
sheep, mink killing a duck. skunk killing
neld mice, wildcat with grouse. a group II
coons on stump, prairie dogs. foxes.
DC Also there viii be a stuffed Rocky
Mountain goat which is species
rapidly approaching extlnc sion. There viii be
seven great cases full of American mammals
and birds which are injurious or beneficial TO
agriculture. The division of mammal
ogy and ornithology viii also show
model of the Death valley region. which
was recently explored by the govern
menf. "a well as a reproduction in NINA
tu-e OF n mountain SLOPE in the same part Of
the world. with the different zones of animal
and vegetable life marked upon il as they are
found by the traveller who ascends in a iav
mate, where the fauna and dora are such as be-
long to the frozen north.
A FOREST SCENE IN MINIATURE.
One of the most remarkable features Of the
exhibit win be forest scene in miniature, with
real trees. in which The mushrooms of this coun-
try will be represented as If growing. Several
hundred species will be shown. all of them ex-
Quisitely counterfeited. the poisonous KINDS
being grouped separately from those which are
edible 1t is desired to educate the farmers
and people generally respecting the value OF
mushrooms As an agricultural product Incl
dentafly. this work of art vii! illustrate some OF
the causes of forest decay. which is so largely
assisted by the destructive agency of parasitic
fungi.
The bureau of animal industry will contribute
q series of interesting models. one of which vail
be q reproduction on small scale of the han sas
City stock yards. showing the methods Of quar-
antining and inspecting cattle a precaution
against Texas fever. Another will illustrate the
tagging of expor: cattle At Chicago. Two women
will be actually seen engaged in the inspection
of pork for tricnina. Only 2 per cent of the
hogs marketed in this country are thus exam
ined. being intended for export TO Europe In
the United States pork Is not eaten half raw.
as it is over there, and thorough cook
ing is the only precsutlon needed. Models
OF trichina and other animal parasites many
times magnihed, and likewise bacterial germs
of disease. will be displayed. There will also re
q huge globe showing the distribution of
pieuro-pneumonia and other complaints which
attack domesticated beasts all over the world.
The weather bureau. which is now under the
Department of Agriculture, will have sepa-
rate building. which will be regularly equipped
as an observing station, with all the meteoro-
logical instruments. &c. In il will be set up n
TEN in use at Washington. Local forecasts
will be made every evening by the officers in
charge just as they are made here, from the
reading of the cipher kilograms announc-
ing weather conditions in various parts
of the country to tho printing Of the
photographic weather maps. which will be given
away TO the public on the spot. On the back Of
each map will be printed a description of the
method by which predictions are turned out
Upstairs will be a lecture ROOM in which several
ffteen-mnute lectures on meteorolosy will be
delivered daily, assisted by the stereopticon.
THE MOST COMPLETE EXHIBIT OF PRODUCTS.
The show will include the biggest and most
complete exhibit of products OF the soil ever got
together. The tobacco-raising industry will be
illustrated by samples of leaf tobacco of every
kind grown in the United States. as well as by
models OF barns and implements used in to-
bacco culture. There will be 5000 samples Of
grains, mostly displayed in small boxes under
glass. while some standard varieties will be
in the straw upon boards. Also there
will be 1000 samples of American wool and
/ 900 samples of cotton. every cotton-growing
county being represented. The division of
pomology will show 1000 models of fruits as
well as a collection of nuts improvedby cultiya-
ton.
The botanical division will contribute an ex-
hibit Of the forage grasses and medicinal plants
of this country, together with an herbarium
containing 5000 American economic plants and
illustrating the manner in which specimens are
preserved for scientific purposes. The division
of forestry will show several hundred samples
of woods valuable for lumber; also models IL
Illustrating the methods by which tan bark. tur-
pentine and wood pulp are obtained. The diff
ferent kinds of woods will be displayed most
a specimen in the rough. another
polished samples of fruit and foliage and
map showing the geographical distribution of
the tree being in each inclosed together
in q frame made of the bark of the
tree. The chemical division will have
o laboratory in operation, with eX-
periments going on for analyZing foods. for |
fiavoring tobacco BIZ inoculating inferior leaves
with bacteria from the Cuban product. &c.
The division of vegetable pathology will show
wax models and pictures of diseased plants. \
In the open air will be exhibited an assemblage |
Of growing economic plants. If possible il is |
intended to include among these some of the |
desert plants of the west, such as cacti and |
the agave. which are found useful in regions |
where they are native TO the soil