ENTOMOLOGY. 575 



ENTOMOLOGY. 



Controlling 1 the boll weevil in cotton seed and at ginneries, W. D. Huntek 

 (V. S. Dipt. Agr., Fanner* Bid. ?09, pp. 31, fig. 1). — It has been shown that ginneries 

 are a very important means of distributing this pest. A number of cases of infesta- 

 tion in Louisiana are thus accounted for. Cotton brought from Texas to gins in 

 Louisiana may infest these gins anil they may in turn serve as centers of further in- 

 festation. In one case it was ascertained that the farmer transported the pest Hi 

 miles in this manner. 



Elaborate series of experiments were carried out for the purpose of determining 

 the value of hydrocyanic-acid gas and carbon bisulphid in destroying the cotton-boll 

 weevil in infested seed. It was found that hydrocyanic-acid gas when used at twice 

 as great a strength as required for the fumigation of grain failed to kill the boll 

 weevils after 5 hours exposure at a depth of 6 to 10 in. in cotton seed. Similar 

 results were obtained when house Hies were placed at depths of from ti to 1l' in. in 

 cotton seed. Carbon bisulphid was therefore resorted to as being a more promising 

 insecticide. This substance was used at the rate of from \\ to 10 lbs. per 1,000 cu. 

 ft. When used at the greatest strength it penetrated and killed the holl weevils to 

 a depth of -ih ft. in cotton seed. 



The slow rate of penetration indicated the futility of using carbon bisulphid in this 

 form. Experiments were therefore tried in applying carbon bisulphid in an arti- 

 ficially volatilized form according to a method devised by W. E. Hinds. A current 

 of air was passed through liquid carbon bisulphid and the resulting vapor was then 

 driven by pressure through the cotton seed to the bottom of the containing cylinder 

 and diffusion of the vapor underpressure was complete and rapid. In this manner 

 it was found possible to kill boll weevils when the carbon bisulphid is used at the 

 rate of 8 lbs. per 1,000 cu. ft. of space for a period of 40 hours. 



The author also carried on experiments to determine whether it is possible to 

 prevent the dissemination of this pest through the agency of cotton gins. Experi- 

 ments along this line are under the immediate direction of James Hull, a practical 

 cotton ginner. It was found that when weevils were passed through the main fan 

 in a pneumatic elevator system with a rate of 1,800 revolutions per minute all tin- 

 weevils were destroyed. When weevils were fed into the outer roll of a gin revolv- 

 ing at the rate of 400 revolutions per minute, 92.4 per cent came through alive. In 

 these experiments it was found that in ginning, weevils may escape with the seed 

 into the seed chute and also at the mote board. It is also shown that weevils may 

 pass through cleaning feeders without being injured. 



An account is given of the present systems of handling and ginning cotton seed in 

 various localities. As a result of the author's observations and experiments it is 

 recommended that a separate, seed-cotton storage house should be maintained and 

 should be provided with special cleaners which may be of use in removing weevils 

 and facilitating ginning. It is also recommended that in the gin house proper cleaner 

 feeders and cotton cleaners be used more extensively and that all trash be treated so 

 as to effectually destroy the weevils. 



Experiments with the San Jose scale during 1904, W. Newell and R. I. 

 Smith (Georgia Stair lid. Enl. lint. 14, />/>■ 32, jigs. -5). — During the past year the 

 authors conducted a series of experiments in summer and winter spraying of trees 

 for the destruction of San .lost'- scale. 



In these experiments 17 variations of the lime-sulphur-salt wash were tested. The 

 experimental work in the use of winter washes began on February 26 and continued 

 until March 3. In the preparation of the lime ami sulphur mixtures the sulphur in 

 nearly all eases was first made into a paste by adding it to boiling water. Detailed 

 statements are given concerning the formulas and the methods of preparing all the 

 mixtures used in the experiments. From these tests it appeared that all compounds 



