156 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



estimated that tliis resulted in a needless? loss to growers of over $400,000. It 

 has been found that the injury to newly set plants by flea-beetles, grasshoppers, 

 tree crickets, etc., can be greatly reduced by spraying directly after setting with 

 arsenate of lead (1 lb. to 16 gal. of water). Upon plant beds the remedy to be 

 used against flea-beetles is arsenate of lead in paste form in water at the rate 

 of 1 lb. to 12 gal. of water, applied in a fine spray. If powdered arsenate of 

 lead is used, i lb. to 12 gal. of water is sufficient. When the plants are very 

 small, that is, have not more than 4 or 6 leaves and barely cover the ground, 12 

 gal. of the insecticide will spray about 240 sq. yds. of bed. 



Sod land intended for tobacco should be plowed in the fall in order to destroy 

 the vegetation and thus starve many of the cutworms. As a further remedy 

 for cutworms it is recommended that clover or a similar succulent plant be 

 poisoned with Paris green mixed with sweetened water and dropped about the 

 field at intervals of a few feet 3 or 4 days before setting plants. 



The greatest insect problem to the growers is the tobacco hornworm, of which 

 there are 2 species, the northern (Phlegethontius quinquemaculata) and the 

 southern (P. scxta). Both species occur in Tennessee, but the southern form 

 is by far the more numerous. The only remedy besides hand picking in use to 

 any extent against the tobacco worms is the a]iplication of Paris green in pow- 

 dered form. Arsenate of lead in powdered form and as a spray is now being 

 tested. Attention is called to the great need in Tennessee for a standard of 

 purity for insecticides. Observations made of the hornworm showed a mortal- 

 ity of 39 per cent due to the breaking up of the protecting cells as brought 

 about by fall plowing. 



As a result of experiments it is recommended that all land upon which to- 

 bacco is grown be plowed in the fall in preparation for the succeeding crop ; 

 also, that the old practice of poisoning " Jimson " blooms with cobalt to kill the 

 tobacco moths when they feed be revived. A rotation that would be effective 

 against tobacco worms and at the same time would supply humus and preserve 

 the fertility of the soil is briefly mentioned. A tentative outline is given of 

 the work for 1909. 



Insects injurious to tobacco, G. E. Anastasia {Bol. Tec. Coltiv. Tahacchi 

 [Scafati], 7 (1908), No. 3-'„ PP- 173-181, pi. 1; 8 {1909), No. 1, pp. 3-9, pi. 1).— 

 A continuation of work previously noted (E. S. R., 20, p. 1151). The first 

 article considers, under the Aphididae, the species ScMzoneura corni and Dre- 

 panosiphon aceris, and the second, the Aleyrodidse, of which A. tahaci Is taken 

 up at some length. 



How to fight cranberry insects, H. J. Franklin {Massachusetts Sta. Bui. 

 126, pp. 8). — In this bulletin, which is a revision of Bulletin 115. previously 

 noted (E. S. R., IS, p. 954), are given the practical applications resulting from 

 2 years' study and experiments on cranberry insects. 



In combating the cranberry fruit- worm {Mineola vaccinii) .on bogs which 

 have a water supply for winter flowage and for reflowage, it is recommended 

 that refl owing be done immediately after picking and continued for 10 days or 

 2 weeks. After allowing the foliage to ripen the water should be put on for 

 the winter, and drawn off as a rule early in April, but every third or fourth 

 year it should be held until after the middle of May. On winter-flowed bogs 

 which do not have a water supply for reflowage, the winter flowage should be 

 put on as soon as possible after the cranberry foliage has ripened and hardened 

 and held until early in April. Every third or fourth year it should be held 

 until after the middle of May. In all cases, the screenings should be buried to 

 destroy any worms which may be in them, and the cracks and crevices where 

 worms may have spun up in the screen house, if near the bog, should be cleaned 

 out in order to guard against infection fiom this source. 



