370 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



which first become yellow, afterwards shrivel, dry up, and are covered with black 

 masses of conidia. The disease usually causes the destruction of the leaves a month 

 before the usual time, leaving the bulbs in a poorly ripened condition. It is claimed that 

 many growers have found that the disease could be held in check by pulling out the 

 flower stalks some time before the usual date of the appearance of the disease. If the 

 flower stalks are merely cut off, the disease shows itself upon them. Investigations 

 of the author show that the flower stalks are usually the first part attacked, and 

 experiments with Bordeaux mixture showed conclusively that this disease in nar- 

 cissus could be successfuU)' prevented. An analysis is reported of the relative starch 

 content in the bulbs in sprayed and unsprayed plants, where it was found that the 

 sprayed plants contained 28 per cent more starch than a similar lot which had not 

 been sprayed. Plats of equal size, sprayed and unsprayed, yielded 14 kg. of bulbs 

 for the spraye<l and 9 kg. for the inisprayed plats. — h. m. pieters. 



Bordeaux mixture containing sugar, and bee culture, E. Jacky (Ztschr. 

 Pflanzenkrank., 11 {1901), No. 4-i>, pp. 212-214).— On account of the claim that the 

 use of Bordeaux mixture containing sugar is injurious to bees, the author conducted 

 a series of experiments, using Bordeaux mixture containing different amounts of 

 sugar, both in crystallized form and as molasses, and nunierous tests were made with 

 different strengths of solution. Apple and other trees were sprayed with the solu- 

 tions and careful watch kept to ascertain whether such trees were visited by bees or 

 not. The results obtained were wholly negative, no bees being observed to visit the 

 sprayed plants. The fungicide prepared in a similar manner was placed about the 

 hives but the bees did not touch it, and when exposed on glass plates and dishes, 

 both in liquid form and filter paper soaked in the mixture, similar results were 

 obtained. The author concludes that the use of Bordeaux mixture to which sugar 

 has been added to increase its adhesive property is not injurious to bees, as they seem 

 to shun rather than seek such a mixture. 



ENTOMOLOGY. 



Department of entomology, A. B. Cordley ( Oregon Stn. Rpt. 1902, 2W- 59-61; 

 64-GG). — In 1901 specimens of Xyleborus disjjar were sent to the station with the 

 statement that the insect was injuring small apple limbs. No further record was 

 obtained until April, 1902. An examination of the orchard in which the insect 

 occurred showed that injury was due only in a slight degree to the bark beetle. The 

 trees were infested with a parasitic mushroom, apparently a species of Agaricus, and 

 it is believed that the bark beetle had attacked the trees after they were already 

 infested with the fungus. 



Experiments were made in spraying Italian prune trees with fish oil and water in 

 proportions varying from 5 to 25 per cent, and with California crude petroleum and 

 water in the same proportion. After 48 hours it apjaeared that the leaves which had 

 been sprayed with fish oil were injured where the drops had collected on the under 

 surface. These areas died and fell out of the leaves. No injury was produced on 

 the foliage, however, from the use of crude pretroleum, even when applied in a 25 

 per cent mixture. It appears, therefore, that California crude petroleum may be 

 safely applied to Italian prune trees in the summer. 



Report of the entomologist, R. C. Scheidt {Pennsylvania Dept. Agr. Rpt. 1901, 

 pt. 1, pp. 325-328) . — Notes are given on the prevalence, habits, and life history of the 

 emperor moth, peach lecanium, forest tent caterpillar, oyster-shell bark louse, peach- 

 twig borer, and San Jose scale. The usual remedies are recommended for these 

 insects. In the destruction of the tent caterpillar, sj^raying with Paris green or kero- 

 sene emulsion was found very effective. It is stated that in wet weather large num- 

 bers of the tent caterpillars are destroyed by a bacterial disease. 



