864 EXPEEIMENT STATION EECOED. 



from 36.97 to 67.23 days, the former from the insectary records of 1905 at 

 Washington and the latter from Barnesville, Ga., in 1910. 



The records indicate that the curculio feeds rather more at night than in the 

 day and that egg laying goes on at about an equal rate during night and day. 

 " It appears that the curculios usually first appear on the trees each season at 

 nearly the same time relative to the advancement of fruit ti'ees, namely, during 

 or a little before the blooming period of ai^ples or shortly after the petals of 

 peaches, pears, and plums have fallen. In some seasons, however, the cur- 

 culios may appear as early as the blooming period of the plum or be retarded 

 until after apples have shed the petals. Thus it appears that the beetles are 

 affected by temperature to a different degree than are the plants on which they 

 live." A second generation is said to have been reared to the adult stage at 

 Barnesville, Ga., in 1910. 



The plum curculio is said to be attacked by several species of parasites, 

 among which the authors consider Anaphoidea conotracheli, which parasitizes 

 the eggs, and Triaspis curcuUonis, T. curcuUonis rufu.t, Thersilochus conotra- 

 cheli, Microhracoii meUitor, Myiophasia cenea, Cholomyia infrquipca, and 

 Pegomya fusciceps. In discussing remedial measures a historical account of 

 the earlier methods first given is followed by a consideration of the relative 

 value of collecting, spraying, and cultivation for the destruction of the pupae. 



"Considering the several records of jarring on peach given above, it would 

 appear that this practice, on the whole, is not warranted from the benefits 

 derived. Notwithstanding the large total of beetles caught in the course of 

 the Barnesville experiment, averaging 20.S1 per tree, there was a lessening of 

 infestation of only about 10 per cent, as compared with the check. . . . 



"The records given of results of spraying apples for the control of the cur- 

 culio indicate clearly that the iniuries of the pest may be in all cases greatly 

 reduced, altliough tlie degree of benefit varies widely. It is apparent that 

 account must be taken of other factors, as the relative abundance of the in- 

 sects as compai-ed with the amount of fruit present on tlie trees. With a small 

 fruit crop and abundance of curculios, the most thorough spraying will not 

 serve to bring through a satisfactoiy amount of sound fruit. . . . The degree 

 of success in spraying varies with the abundance of the insects, and where the 

 latter are numerous thorough treatments seem to fail to yield a desired free- 

 dom from injury." A schedule consisting of 4 sprayings is recommended for 

 apple orchards and should control the plum curculio as well as numerous other 

 insect enemies. 



A combination of arsenate of lead and self-boiled lime-sulphur wash, while 

 resulting in important chemical changes, has in actual practice resulted in a 

 spray which appears to be perfectly safe to peach foliage and fruit. Expe- 

 rience during the past 3 years with this combined si^ray on peaches under vary- 

 ing climatic conditions seems to leave no doubt that by this combination the 

 injurious properties of the arsenate of lead, as when used alone, are so reduced 

 as to be practically negligible. " More data are needed to show the protection 

 from curculio which will follow spraying plums and cherries, though this will 

 without doubt be quite as marked as with peaches. The same spraying schedule 

 indicated for early peaches will be suitable for plums and cherries, and the 

 arsenical should be used in the self-boiled lime-sulphur wash." 



A bibliography of economic literature consisting of 23 i)ages is appended. 



Texas bee keeping, L. H. Scroll {Tex. Dept. Agr. Bui. 2'/, 1912, pp. I'i2, figs. 

 115). — This bulletin has been prepared by an experienced bee keeper to meet 

 the requirements of those who desire complete practical instructions concerning 

 bee keeping. 



