PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 83 



The eggs for the future borers are laid in June on the stems at the axil 

 of some twig or leaf, and as the egg hatches the young grub bores inside 

 the cane. Here they continue to bore until the following spring, when 

 they transform and soon issue as the mature form, which in the most com- 

 mon species is a small, clear winged, wasp- like moth. By spring the canes 

 will have been pretty badly bored inside and are usually slower in leafing 

 out than the rest. By going through the currants at the time of leafing 

 out, and cutting out all the injured canes that can be found, fully three 

 fourths of the affected canes can be collected and the borers destroyed. 

 If this is repeated every year the borers will soon be so reduced in num- 

 bers that they will do little harm. 



In addition to this paper, Mr. Davis said he had never been able to find 

 in Michigan the true squash vine root borer. Many samples of injured 

 vines had been sent him, but none of them had been affected by either the 

 root borer or the big black bug, but by a bacterial disease or a fungus. 

 The bacterial disease may be prevented by use of lime or carbolized lime. 

 The disease is carried from vine to vine by both bugs, the little one espe- 

 cially. If we keep these off we will save the squashes. The little white 

 worms in the squash roots, spoken of by an inquirer, were larvae of the 

 striped beetle. These are very destructive, but those who have thought 

 them the true root borer are mistaken. Sprinkle lime or carbolized lime 

 over the leaves and about the roots. The latter is made by using in a 

 bushel of lime one half to three fourths of a teacupful of crude carbolic 

 acid. 



Mr. Morrill thought this mixture too strong for use about melons; 

 that a quarter cupful of the acid would be enough. Mr. Davis thought 

 quite possibly this was true. 



Mr. J. G. Ramsdell said, as to the currant borer, that the only way he 

 knew of to subdue it is to cut off one half of the season's growth, and so 

 discover and kill the borers, but this is hard work and destroys much of 

 the crop. 



Mr. M. E. Williams: This is a very important matter. If, as Mr. 

 Davis says, this borer can be detected by the later leafing of affected stems, 

 it will be a great aid. 



Mr. Davis: This means of detection can not always be relied upon, but 

 in two thirds of the cases the presence of the borer may be detected in 

 this way. It looks as though it is doubtful if any remedy save cutting can 

 be used, except to destroy the eggs, for the larvae bore in and stay there. 



Mr. Morrill: I find this really a very reliable cure. I found the Red 

 Dutch peculiarly subject to the borer and so I took that variety out 

 entirely. In the spring I take out every branch that is not leafing properly. 

 I go again later and catch all the rest. I burn all the brush cut out. 



