GRAPEVINE ROOT WORM 71 



chambers, though if many appear it is probable that the most 

 advantageous time fo4" this work has passed. Plan to plow or 

 cultivate as close to the vines as possible when attempting to 

 destroy the pupae and aim to make the earth fine. It is not 

 necessary to go to a depth of more than 3 inches. 



Collecting beetles. This method of controlling the grapevine 

 root worm did not promise much when it was first attempted. 

 Professor Webster had either not considered it worth trying 

 or had found it of comparatively little value, and Dr Marlatt did 

 not even mention it in his recommendations. Professor Slinger- 

 land makes the guarded statement that it may be practicable 

 in some cases to jar the beetles into a collecting apparatus, 

 but he apparently had little faith in the plan, except where the 

 beetles could be jarred to the ground w^here they would be 

 eaten by chickens. 



Mr J. J. Barden, working under the writer's directions, found 

 that even with a plain cloth-covered frame several feet square 

 and with a small slit in one side, so that it could be slipped 

 under a vine, that large numbers of the insects could be col- 

 lected. With this crude apparatus he was able to capture a 

 quart of beetles in about two hours. This indicated that much 

 better results could be secured with a more elaborate apparatus, 

 and with the aid of Mr G. L. Hough he constructed a modified 

 form of theCurculio catcher, which is represented on plate 6. The 

 machine is 6 feet long and 3 feet wide at the top with vertical 

 ends and the sides sloping to a trough about 3 inches square. 

 A central slit about 3 inches wide was cut in the side opposite 

 the handles and the whole mounted on a two wheeled frame. 

 The central trough is subdivided by a few transverse partitions 

 and these spaces are partly filled with kerosene and water. 

 The sides, ends and trough are constructed of galvanized iron 

 and strengthened with iron straps as shown in the figure. The 

 wheels are from a tov cart and the handles and frame are home- 

 made. The method of operation is simply to wheel the machine 

 between the vines and then, elevating the handles, the farther 

 side can be slipped under the wire, and the trunk of the vine 



