230 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



were planted about seven feet apart each way. Upon piekino- them over 

 a week later over 1,600 worms were taken out. In all, this acre was 

 picked over five times during the season, and approximately 4,000 

 worms were taken out. The results of this first picking were so encour- 

 aging that it was decided to work on a large scale. Some preliminary 

 work was done, planting rows 60 feet apart, then planting a row half 

 way between after a few days to see if it caught worms, to determine 

 the proper distance apart between the rows of potatoes. In this way 

 the distance was narrowed down until no more worms were caught, and 

 we had an approximate idea how far apart the rows should lie. In the 

 meantime a potato planter was rigged up by taking an old, two-hole 

 bean planter and splitting the back of the feed pipes so as to allow 

 the wires attached to the potatoes to slip through. Other labor saving 

 improvements were made, such as using only straight wire that could 

 be cut and handled nuich quicker and dipping the ends of the wires in 

 whitewash to serve as indicators instead of tying on a cloth. AI)Out 

 three weeks were spent in this preliminary work, and active work on a 

 large scale was carried on some three weeks longer, or until planting 

 time, about the 20th of May. In all, approximately 100 acres were 

 worked over with potatoes planted two rows at a time 5 feet apart and 

 about 6 to 10 feet apart in the row. A space of about 20 feet was left 

 between the double rows. The potatoes were picked over every three 

 or four days on an average. About 20 acres of the ground received five 

 pickings, another 20 acres four pickings, still another 20 acres two 

 pickings and about 40 acres three pickings. The total expense of the 

 work amounted to a little less than $350.00, or an average of $3.50 per 

 acre. In checking up the results it was possible to follow the work 

 right straight through. The land picked over five times showed no 

 worm damage at all. The land picked over four times showed a trace 

 of worm damage, but was considered entirely satisfactory. The land 

 picked over three times showed some w^orm damage, but on the whole 

 was satisfactory. The land picked over two times showed the most 

 worm damage and was not considered quite satisfactory. Some of the 

 beans on land not worked over at all were severely damaged. On the 

 whole the work done at Mr. Leonard's in 1914 was as good as could be 

 asked for, but there was still some doubt as to whether the potato catch- 

 crop would work as well in other places under different soil conditions. 

 In a way these doubts were confirmed to some extent ])y the results 

 obtained in 1915, but everything considered the potato catch-crop 

 method proved quite satisfactory. 



The first work done in 1915 in co-operation with Donlon Bros, was 

 to determine the relative values of lima beans, beets, corn and potatoes 

 as catch-crops. It was found that beets were not at all attractive to the 

 worms. Very little preference was shown between lima beans, corn, 

 scalded and raw potatoes. Raw potatoes were given the preference on 

 account of being more suitable to use under field conditions. Another 

 point brought out was the fact that the worms became more and more 

 active as the ground warmed up. Potatoes were used continuously 

 from the first of January until the Ix'ans were planted the latter part 

 of May. While some worms were taken throughout this time, the con- 

 clusion reached was that it would not pay to start active trapping 

 before the first of April in most cases. 



