254 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Something of the past history of this erratic fly is told by Drs. Riley and Howard* 

 from whose paper we find that it has been found working in wheat, oats, corn, and 

 sugar cane, having been observed by a number of different entomologists and that it 

 ranges from Canada to the West Indies. 



The adult was obtained on corn in fairly good numbers at the Agricultural College 

 on August 13, 1900, and specimens that are almost certainly the same, have been 

 repeatedly seen by the writer on Phragmites communis near the college. There is little 

 doubt that the insect is many brooded. The adults are to be seen at widely different 

 seasons. 



REMEDIES. 



The fact that at least part of the insects pass the winter in the pupal form, inside 

 the onion, gives us the key to one measure to be taken, viz.: Destroy all injured onions 

 in the fall. All young or growing onions should be pulled up and destroyed as soon 

 as they show signs of infestation ; further than this, remedial measures must be deter- 

 mined by experiment. It is likely that the most successful of the remedial measures will 

 be along the line of deterrents or agents that will hinder the adult flies from laying their 

 eggs, or else something that will kill the eggs or young larvae while very young, for 

 after the larvae go into the onion, it is likely that nothing more can be done. 



Of this class of remedies there are three that seem to be likely to prove worth a 

 careful trial. These are carbolic acid emulsion, kerosene and sand, and tobacco dust. 

 All three of these remedies should be of most use when the plants are young and before 

 the maggots have had an opportunity to burrow out of reach. If the first brood is 

 overcome, it is likely that the later broods will be less numerous. 



The tobacco dust is to be used as near the plants as possible, and preferably while 

 they are young. 



Kerosene and sand is simply sand wetted with kerosene, a large cupful of oil to a 

 pailful of sand, and placed along the rows. It needs to be renewed every week or ten 

 days. 



The carbolic acid emulsion is highly recommended by Prof. Slingerland.f He advises 

 using the following formula: 



Hard soap one pound, or soft soap one quart. 

 Water (boiling) one gallon. 

 Crude carbolic acid one pint. 



The soap is to be dissolved in the water and while it is still boiling hot the acid is 

 added and the whole churned by forcing the stream from the nozzle into the kettle, 

 just as is done in making kerosene emulsion. Dilute with thirty (30) times its bulk 

 of water and apply along the rows every ten days after the onions come up until June. 

 It may be necessary to continue the treatment longer, but it is hoped that the trouble 

 will cease if the first broods are killed off. If any injury results from the use of this 

 emulsion, dilute it still more. Use the crude carbolic acid in making the emulsion as 

 it is very much cheaper and just as ' good. Send specimens to the entomologist 

 just as soon as the insect appears. 



Rotation of crops should be practiced on general principles. 



THE PLUM GOUGER 



{Coccotorus prunicida Walsh.) 



Plum growers will not be pleased to learn that the plum gouger, a relative of the 

 curculio, has finally been found in our State. The gouger works in some respects like 

 the curculio, and is controlled by the same methods with modifications. The insect is 

 shown four and a half times enlarged in Fig. 19. In appearance the adult beetle 

 is quite distinct from the curculio, being about one-quarter inch long, exclusive of the 

 beak. It is mottled light and dark brown, with whitish hairs that give it a pruinose 

 appearance. The pro-thorax is light brown as well as the beak. The wing-covers are 

 evenly curved without the four humps that characterize the curculio. 



* Insect Life, Vol. VII, pp. 252-4. 



t Bulletin 78, Cornell Experiment Station, p. 530. 



