306 MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



even in a dry cage. The sprouts remaining on the potatoes will branch 

 in a few days and grow very rapidly, with the mealy bug infestation 

 increasing. In this way the potatoes will produce three or four times 

 as many sprouts as they do without pruning. 



The propagation of mealy bugs by this method will no doubt be of 

 great value in the transportation of their enemies acro.ss the continent, 

 as it is very difficult to get infested plants to hold up long enough for 

 such a voyage. In the trays, after sprouting, the potatoes will form a 

 new crop of young tubers in the sand and in time these too will sprout, 

 keeping the food supply continuous for a long period. 



