160 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The white- ninrkod tussock moth was iimisiinlly jilmndnnt on shafle trees in 

 cities and towns in the eastern part of tlie State. The wood leopard moth was 

 less troublesome in the large cities than for several years previous. Parasiti>s 

 appear to have caused the almost complete elimination of the catalpa' sphinx 

 during 1908. The moths of the snow-white Eugonia appeared in great abun- 

 dance in Hudson and Essex counties, this being its first appearance in numbers 

 for several decades. 



The black peach aphis was abnormally abundant on the roots of trees in 

 the southern sections of the State. The fungus Sphwrostilbe coccophila was 

 found in September on Asindiotus forhcfii, infesting cherry trees. Other insects 

 of the year briefly noted include the pear psylla, grape plum moths, rose chafer, 

 strawberry leaf roller, strawberry weevil, cutworms, cabbage worms, tomato 

 worms, corn worms, onion thrips, flea beetles, plant bugs, asparagus beetles, 

 digger wasps {Sphecius speciosus), Chinese mantids, ants, Angoumois grain 

 moth, and the mushroom sciara (Sciara multiseta). 



Insects mentioned as alTecting cranberries are cutworms, flea beetles, and 

 grasshoppers. Notes are given on the life history and habits of the flea beetle 

 {Chxetocnema confinis), which was the source of injury to the sweet potato. 

 The use of arsenate of lead or a delay in setting out is recommended. Three 

 species of tortoise beetles or gold bugs were also found in more or less abun- 

 dance on sweet potatoes. 



Fi'om observations on root maggots, reported by E. L. Dickerson, it appears 

 that the great majority, if not all of the cabbage root maggots, passed the win- 

 ter in the pupal stage. PhorMa ceparum, Euxesta notata, and Tritoxa flexa 

 were bred from infested onions. There was no evidence that the fertilizer con- 

 taining cai'bolic acid had been of any benefit in checking the maggot, although 

 it may prove that it does if applied at just the right time. Cooper's Vi and V2 

 fluids used liberally upon maggot-infested plants proved of little value. As a 

 protection to the cauliflower and cabbage plants the tarred paper disks proved 

 to be both practical and effective. 



Under records of the experiment orchard it is stated that such scale-kill- 

 ing materials as were tried proved ineffective. Notes are also given on vari- 

 ous insecticides, including arsenate of lead, miseible oils, aphine, picric acid, 

 carbolic acid, carbolic acid emulsion, carbolic acid fertilizer, lime and carbolic 

 acid, Bogarfs sulphur compound, lime and sulphur, and Cooper's Yi and V2 

 tree sprays. The author considers that for use against plant lice in the garden 

 and greenhouse, Aphine has not been excelled by anything known to him and 

 thinks that in the field it will probably do as well should the price be sufficiently 

 low. 



Report of the government entomologist for the year 1907, C. P. Lounsbuet 

 (Rpt. Govt. Ent. [Cape Good Hopel, 1907, pp. //5-57). — In the inspection of*im- 

 ports apples from Tasmania, apple stocks from England, and roses from Hol- 

 land were found infested by the oyster-shell scale and a quantity of gooseberry 

 bushes from England by an undetermined Lecanium. Several small consign- 

 ments of Madeira apples were refused admittance on account of fruit fly infes- 

 tation. 



Under the nurseries inspection and quarantine act, the red scale (Chrysotn- 

 phalus aurantii), the circular purple scale (C. aonidum), the Ross black scale 

 (C. rossi), the purple or mussel scale {Lepidosaphes heckii), the Glover or long 

 scale (L. gloverii), the white peach scale (Aulacaspis pcntagoiia), and the 

 woolly aphis were proclaimed pests within the meaning of the act. The red 

 scale, white peach scale, and woolly aphis are said to be very common pests. 

 The circular purple scale was found to be well established in 2 florist nurseries. 

 The Ross scale, while common in the Transvaal, has not been found in the Cape 



