THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 229 



drillod into tlie ground with the two outer holes of a bean planter. 

 This threw the rows 7^ feet apart. After leaving tiie bait iu the ground 

 for about two weeks in order to accumulate the worms in the rows of 

 splits, an ordinary fertilizer drill was obtained and powdered cyanide 

 thoroughly mixed with dry sand was drilled in on each side of the bean 

 row and four inches awa}'. In this experiment, covering exactly one 

 acre, most of the cyanide was put in at the rate of one-tenth of one 

 ounce of cyanide to each running foot, costing approximately $10.00 

 per acre. Two short strips were also put in, one at the rate of approxi- 

 mately $15.00 per acre and the other at the rate of approximately $5.00 

 per acre. Unfortunately, it was impossible to get the drill used into 

 the ground more than 4 inches. The packing of the ground was done 

 with a light hand roller tied behind the drill, and was far from satis- 

 factory. Under the circumstances the results obtained were better than 

 anticipated. The $5.00 strength gave a 35 per cent killing, the $10.00 

 a 50 per cent, and the $15.00 an 80 per cent. To obtain these per- 

 centages all of the worms found within one foot of the row on each side 

 and to a depth of 8 inches were counted. It would be more desirable to 

 leave the splits in the ground three or four weeks, not only to attract 

 more worms into the rows, but also to allow the splits to rot or be 

 devoured, as the cyanide fumes will not penetrate to worms inside the 

 beans. After the worms get into the row there is little chance of their 

 leaving, even though there is no food, as the natural tendency is to follow 

 doM^n the rows along the lines of least resistance. It is to be regretted 

 that we were unable to give this method a more exhaustive test under 

 more favorable conditions. With a drill capable of putting the cyanide 

 down 8 inches and following with a erosskill and a heavy roller, excellent 

 results could undoubtedly be obtained, using on sandy ground a $15.00 

 strength, on medium loamy ground a $10.00 strength, and on heaw 

 adobe ground a $5.00 strength. Possibly these strengths could be 

 lessened. It may also be possible to widen the distance between rows 

 considerably as was done with the potato catch-crop. The rows of splits 

 can also be examined ahead of the drill, and the ground treated only 

 where there are worms. This method has the same disadvantage as the 

 potato catch-crop, in that the worms may not be attracted to the bait in 

 every case. Cyanide placed in the ground in a granulated condition 

 gradually decomposes. This decomposition is practically complete 

 within two weeks, so that beans can l}e planted with no ill effects. 



Catch-crops. — To Mr. James Leonard of the Colonia district belongs 

 the honor of being the first man in this section to use catch-crops with 

 success. During the spring of 1914 the writer succeeded in interesting 

 Mr. Leonard in trying to control the wireworms which were making ver^' 

 heavy yearly inroads on his bean crop. The previous year, 1913, the 

 Avorms had been especially bad. practically cleaning up one 50-acre 

 field and badly damaging others. At the writer's suggestion he decided 

 to try out potatoes as a catch-crop. The first work done Avas quite 

 crude, but as the experiment gave promise of success, better methods 

 were Avorked out. The first work was done entirely by hand. The 

 potatoes were cut up into pieces about one-half of an ounce to one ounce 

 in weight; a wire M'ith a white cloth attached to it Avas hooked through 

 the potato to serve as a location mark, and the potato Avas then planted 

 with a hoe or shovel. One acre w^s laid out in the field, and potatoes 



