128 MISSOURI SIATE IIOKTICULTL'KAL SUCIETY. 



erally covered with the worms. After the rye was taken off the worms 

 appeared in his early sweet corn and did great damage, -boring down 

 into the center of tl\e stalk and perforating it. The insect is found in 

 almost every garden in Kirkwood, and will occasion much loss and de- 

 lay in the sweet corn crop. 



Prof. Riley gave the first account of the destructive habits of this 

 insect in his 9th report on the insects of Missouri. The larvae 

 there figured are much lighter in color than any that have come 

 under my observation this spring but the light and dark lateral stripes 

 and broad dark stripe outlining the V-shaped face, and the mottlings on 

 the pale buff cheeks, indicate the species without much question. 



This worm is not so large as its first cousin, the migratory army 

 worm, when full grown, but little over an inch in length and about one- 

 fifth of an inch in diameter. It is prettily striped in pale yelloA\', buff, 

 and brown, having, in my specimens, a leaden blue shade on the back. 

 It feeds for about three weeks before attaining its full size, enters the 

 ground to transform, and the second brood of moths appear in July. 

 It has several parasitic and other natural enemies which are our chief 

 reliance against its undue increase. 



The plum curculio, as I anticipated last fall, has not appeared in 

 sufficient numbers in the vicinity of Kirkwood to do any appreciable in- 

 jury. A few plums show its crescent cuts-, but not within my recollect- 

 tion have cherries and peaches been so absolutely free from its attacks, 

 and trees of these fruits are bearing heavily with us. 



Many orchardists of this locality are spraying their trees with Paris 

 green and London purple. They seem more afraid to handle the pure 

 arsenic, although it is vastly preferable on many accounts. 



I am using, for experiment on a small scale, a solution of arsenic in 

 ammonia, dissolving one ounce of the arsenic in a quart of aqua am- 

 monia, and using a tablespoonful of this in two quarts of water. I think 

 it will prove efficacious and the ammonia will stimulate the growth of 

 the plants to which it is applied. 



Messrs. Murray, Goodman, Gilbert, Blanchard, Goslin, King and 

 others spoke on the root louse and other insects. But little damage was 

 reported in this section of the state from the root louse. 



Mr. Blanchard reported some injury, as also Mr. Browning, of Mound 

 City, Mr. Gilbert, of Oregon County, reported some damage. He said 

 he found trees bought from the Humboldt, Tenn., nursery, largely insected 

 by this pest. 



I\Ir. King, of Andrew County, thought lime, ashes, etc., a good ex- 

 terminator. 



