No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 307 



Cabbage Plant Lice have proven quite destructive and should 

 be killed by spraying with whale oil soap, one pound in six gallons 

 of water, or similar insecticide are recommended for Aphids. 



The Curculio has been as abundant as ever on peach, plum, cherry 

 and qnince, but is being held in check by many orchardists by spray- 

 ing with arsenate of lead in Bordeaux mixture and combining this 

 with jarring of the trees in the morning to catch the pests. 



A few correspondents reported Cutworms in abundance, but this 

 was only on sod ground, and where the ground was plowed in the 

 fall ai)d the insects exposed by late fall and early spring cultivation, 

 they were not found so destructive. Also their experiments in using 

 poisoned bran for these pests were very successful, as was published 

 in one of our bulletins for last spring. 



The European Fruit Scale, Forbes' Scale and Putman's Scale are 

 species of the genus Aspidiotus, thus belonging to the same genus 

 as the San Jos^ Scale and closely resembling the last-named pest. 

 They have been found very extensively by our inspectors and it is 

 not infrequent that an error is made by confusing these with San 

 Jos6 Scale. They are not so destructive and need not cause undue 

 alarm. Flea Beetles have been present and especially destructive 

 on potatoes by gnawing holes in the epidermis and making the 

 leaves appear to be specked with brown. However, they are re- 

 pelled or destroyed by spraying with Bordeaux mixture with an 

 arsenical poison added. 



The grain pest known as the Angoumois Grain Moth has con- 

 tinued its destructiveness, especially in the southeastern portion 

 of this State. However, we have had some excellent reports of 

 loss prevented by this pest by threshing the grain early and get- 

 ting it into the bin rather than leaving it in the straw. One person 

 in particular reported to us that he had threshed about one-half 

 of his crop shortly after harvest and the other half was left until 

 the early part of the winter. The former was not injured by the 

 Grain Moth, while the latter was practically destroyed. This is in 

 accordance with our recommendations. 



Grasshoppers have been observed by us as serious enemies of 

 fruit by gnawing peaches through the skin at the upper side as they 

 are rip'^ning, especially during the very dry part of the year which, 

 of course, is the growing side, and resulting in decided blemishes. 

 We have also had reports of their destroying tobacco and eating 

 the leaves and fruit of melons. We recommend poisoning them 

 with the Griddle Mixture or spraying with sweetened arsenical 

 poison. The Griddle Mixture is discussed in the Bulletin of the 

 Division of Zoology for last May. 



The Hessian Fly has not been so destructive as during some 

 years, but as usual the wheat planted early has been generally in- 

 fested more or less. 



Lady Beetles as beneficial insects have been reported from a 

 great many different sources. Leaf Hoppers on rose, apple and po- 

 tatoes have been injurious in some places, but have been destroyed 

 by two or three applications of contact insecticides, such as are 

 recommended for plant lice. Maggots or the larvge of the flies in 

 raspberry canes have appeared in some parts of this State, thus 

 causing a wilting down of the tips during the summer. They 

 should be cut and burned when found infested. The Mediterran- 



