862 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5 GEORGE v.. A. 1915 



tliiin one-teiitli of an acre). Upon such laud moistened bran poisoned with various 

 strengths of Paris g-reen, London purple, and arsenate of lead, was broad-casted. Owing 

 to the dull, cool, backward spring, however, the cutworms were not feeding ravenously 

 and in many of the experimental plots not more than 2-0 per cent of the cirtworms 

 were killed. From observations made by Mr. Strickland, too, it would appear that 

 the Porosagrotis cutworm feeds just below the surface of the soil. If this underground 

 feeding habit should prove constant, we cannot, of course, expect applications of pois- 

 oned bran, shorts, etc., to prove a perfect remedy. Further experiments in control will 

 be made whenever the cutworms again become active. The actual damage effected by 

 the cutworms in southern Alberta during 1913 was not nearly so great as that of the 

 preceding year. One correspondent living at Magrath estimated that he lost 50 per 

 cent of his crop in 1912. 



In Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec, the Red-backed Cutworm (Euxoa ocJirogaster) 

 was reported to have been particularly abundant in fields of cabbage, etc. From New 

 Brunswick reports were received of injury by the Greasy Cutworm (Agrotis ypsilon), 

 especially in fields of potatoes, many of which were seriously injured. 



The Army Worm (Leucania unipuncta). 



It is important to record the reappearance of the true Army-worm during 191-3. 

 In early August, Mr. Xorman Criddle reported that the larvae were in great 

 abundance in a large field of oats near Treesbank, Man. An interesting observation was 

 that the caterpillars were also readily devouring the Green Foxtail (Setaria viridis). 

 Reporting later on the outbreak, Mr. Criddle estimated the greatest amount of damage 

 would reach .50 per cent, and the average on infested fields about 20 per cent. Farmers 

 in Manitoba should watch for the appearance of the Army-worm in 1914 and report 

 occurrences at once to the Division. There are two annual broods of the Army-worm, 

 the moths appearing in June and again in August and September. The moths which 

 appear in June lay their eggs, and it is the caterpillars from this brood which appear 

 in July and August which are the most destructive. 



Locusts. 



In eastern Ontario, Quebec, and southern Manitoba, considerable loss was 

 occasioned from the ravages of locusts, particularly in light, sandy areas. At Bowes- 

 ville, near Ottawa, a serious outbreak occurred, which we investigated in July. Two 

 species of destructive locusts were present, namely, the Lesser Migratory Locust 

 (MelanopJus atlanis Riley) and the Pellucid Locust (Camnula pellucida Scudd.), the 

 former particularly being present in very large numbers. Fields of oats, barley, 

 timothy, rye, and corn were being devastated, large areas being entirely eaten; beans, 

 potatoes, and carrots were also attacked. 



At our Entomological Field Station at Covey Hill, Que., a series of experiments 

 was begun by our Field Officer, Mr. C. E. Petch, on the destruction of locusts with 

 the Grasshopper Coccobacillus (Coccohacillus acridiorum d'Herelle), the original cul- 

 ture of which was received through the kindness of the Director of the Pasteur Insti- 

 tute, Paris, France. Successful inoculations were made at Covey Hill and later a 

 supply of infected bouillon was received at Ottawa, and this was sprayed directly 

 over the grasshoppers at Bowesville, Ont. Unfortunately, however, owing to a delay 

 of some hours in the arrival of the bouillon at Ottawa, together with unfavourable 

 weather conditions, it was not expected that infection would take place in the field. 

 We hope to receive further cultures from France and to continue the experiments 

 during the spring and summer of 1914. At the Covey Hill Field Station over 400 

 locusts were inoculated in the laboratory, five of which died within three hours, indi- 

 cating that tlie Coccohacillus was pathogenic in the case of our native species of 

 locusts. 



Ottawa. 



