293 



aucl pupoB in abundance Ja\y 24, at which time they were placed in 

 vivaria. Two adults of the rhubarb curculio emerged August 1. On the 

 same day two adults, sixteen pupae, and sixteen larvse were found on 

 the curled dock. September 2 an adult was found on a leaf of curled 

 dock, and October 2 another was taken in a cavity of the root where it 

 had evidently developed. 



Tho same day three pupte were found lu similar situatious. In these cases the 

 plant was of this year's growth, not having sent up a flower stalk, so that the insects 

 must have developed within the root alone. 



Tlie earlier observations of the season showed tho larvie usually boring the flower 

 stock and upper portion of the root. As a rule, only one insect was found in a stem, 

 but there were occasional exceptions to it. Pupation took place at almost any point 

 from the base of the cavity in tho root to the upper portion of the stem. No indica- 

 tions of the girdling of the stem were noticed, and late in September large numbers 

 of tho dead stems, which had been inhabited by the insect, were still standing. In 

 many of them a hol-o could be found through which the beetles had emerged. These 

 holes occurred at almost any point on the stalk. 



I have also repeatedly collected the perfect insect during the autumn, winter, and 

 spring months, not only in Ohio but also in Illinois and Michigan. 



From tho above observations it appears that in this region the rhubarb curculio 

 usually hibernates as an adult, and comes forth in the spring to deposit its eggs in 

 certain common species of dock (usually in Bumex crispus, but occasionally also in 

 R. altissimus and probably other species). The eggs are probably laid preferably 

 in the young flower stalk, but in the absence of these may be deposited in the crown 

 of the plant. The period of oviposition is evidently an extended one, very young 

 larvie being taken at the same time as pupae, and there being a difference of more 

 than two months in the time of reaching maturity. The eggs probably hatch within 

 a few days, and the larvae feed upon the substance of the root or stem several weeks. 

 The eggs first deposited in spring develop into beetles by the 1st of August, and the 

 insects from eggs deposited later continue to mature until October. 



The insect in its different stages is briefly described and is illustrated 

 by original cuts. A parasite of the rhubarb curculio, identified by 

 Prof. RUey as Bracon rugator, Say, was also found and is illustrated. 

 The destruction early in summer of the plants in which the rhubarb 

 curculio develops is recommended for its repression. 



A SECOND EXPERIMENT IN PREVENTING THE INJURIES OF PO- 

 TATO BLIGHT, C. M. Weed, D. So. (pp. 239, 240).— In Ohio Station 

 Bulletin, Vol. II, Xo. 6 (second series), p. 157, (See Experiment Station 

 Record, Vol. I, p. 291), was recorded a preliminary test in which a con- 

 siderable increase of yield was obtained from treating what is commonly 

 known as the blight or rot of potatoes with the Bordeaux mixture. 

 At that time the disease was thought to be due to Phytophthora in- 

 fcstans, but the author is now inclined to believe that it is the bacterial 

 disease referred to in a recent paper by Prof. T. J. Burrill, read before the 

 Societj' for the Promotion of Agricultural Science. In 1890 five rows 

 of Early Ohio potatoes were treated with Bordeaux mixture, four rows 

 with ammoniacal solution of carbonate of copper, and two rows were 

 left untreated. The fungicides were applied June 28, July 7, July 17, 

 and August 1. When the potatoes were harvested " the rows sprayed 

 with the Bordeaux mixture averaged 40.2 pounds to the row; those 



