174 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5-6 EDWARD VII., A. 1906 



generally speaking, poor and far less satisfactory than mangels. The Turnip Aphis 

 was reported as in greater numbers in western Ontario than for many years. In the 

 eastern counties of the province the revei-se of this was the case. Cutworms did some 

 harm and the Turnip Flea-beetle was stated to be very destructive in Pictou county, 

 N.S. The Co^-orado Potato Beetle was less destructive than usual in the Maritime Pro- 

 vinces, but was mentioned as unusually abundant in Manitoba. Mr. W. J. Black, of 

 Winnipeg, writes : — ' The Potato Beetle has this year been rauch more in evidence than 

 ever before ; and, in many cases, those "who have not been previously familiar with this 

 insect and its method of destroying the potato plant, have had their crops literally con- 

 sumed before they were aware of what was taking place. The greatest damage from 

 this pest has been in the Red River valley; but it would appear that it is gradually 

 working its way westward. It was noticeable as far west as Portage la Prairie; but at 

 Brandon it has not yet become destructive. Cutworms, chiefly the Red-backed Cutworm, 

 did much injury at several places, in gardens as well as in fields. Where attended to 

 promptly with the poisoned bran remedy satisfactory results were invariably secured. 

 Two newi pests of cultivated plants were reported from Manitoba by Mr. Norman 

 Griddle. The Knot- weed Beetle (Gastroidea polygoni, L.) did considerable harm to 

 rhubarb by eating holes in the leaves, and Galeruca externa, Say, a chrysomelid which 

 feeds naturally on Lepidmm apetalum, an indigenous member of the cress family, 

 turned its attention to cabbages and turnips. 



The Stalk Borer (Papaipema nitela, Gn.). — ^In the past all referencas to injui-y 

 by stalk borers in potatoes, com and other crops in Canada have been for the most part 

 attributed to the caterpillars of the Stalk Borer (Papaipema nitela, Gn.), sometimes 

 referred to as the Potato Sta^lk Borer. At Ottawa many years ago I found that nearly 

 all injuries by stalk borers to plants in vegetable and flower gardens were by the Bur- 

 dock Borer {Papaipema cataphracta, Grt), and I could find no specimens of P. nitela 

 in collections, which had been reared from cultivated plants- in Canada. During the 

 past summer, however, P. nitela was very abundant and destructive in the western 

 counties of Ontario and in the State of Michigan. Through the kindness of Professor 

 Lochhead, I learnt of localities where I could obtain specimens for study. Mr. G. W. 

 Risoborough, of Fargo, Ont., helped me very much in this investigation and kindly 

 sent me several consignments of the caterpillars and the plants they were attacking, 

 as well as some parasites which he had found with the larvse. Although, on the whole, 

 this abundant occurrence of the Stalk Borer in Ontario had little effect on the crops 

 attacked, it was very interesting and worthy of record. 



' Fargo, Ont., July 3. — I was examining to-day some of my corn fields and find 

 that the borer "has left them very thin in some places. The injury is more noticeable in 

 corn than in other plants, because the top fades quickly. I have found several other 

 fields besides my own affected by this insect. The good corn weather which we have 

 had recently, has pushed the plants on so fast that the effects of the borer are not nearly 

 so apparent now as they were, and, apart from one or two pieces, the damage does not 

 seem to be very great. Many other plants were affected in this neighbourhood besides 

 the com. I have found the caterpillars in potatoes, tomatoes, Canada Thistle, elder, 

 lamb's-quarters, garden beans, ragweed and a few kinds of garden flowers.' 



' July 7. — I was looking at 30 large tomato plants to-day which are just beginning 

 to blossom, and I find 8 of them with borers in them.' 



' July 13. — I found a wonn yesterday just beginning to bore into a pigweed stem. 

 When discovered, only his head was buried. In fifteen minutes he had buried in his 

 whole length. I was surprised, too, to find a plant of sweet clover which as you know 

 . has a very tough stem, with three holes in it and two worms. They cleaned out the 

 centre of the stem for about two feet. The early potatoes, tomatoes and most flowers 

 and weeds do not show the effect of the borers so quickly aa the corn does, because they 

 do not fade so easily. The corn in this section never grew more quickly than during 



