158 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



mixture wa« found effective: 1 gal. cane molasses, 1 oz. arsenic, 6 oz. arsenate of lead, 

 and 47 gal. of water. The author insists upon the desirability of beginning all lines 

 of treatment as early as possible in the spring. 



A supplementary report of investigation of the Mexican boll weevil is appended, 

 in whidi the author calls attention to the work which has already been done, and 

 the ap{>ropriations which will be necessary for continuing the work. 



The Mexican cotton-boll weevil, F. W. Mally ( K *S'. Dept. Agr., Farmers' 

 Bill. loO, pi>. oO, tiffin. ^).— The essential facts contained in this bulletin have been 

 noted al)ove from another source. 



The root louse of grain and means of combating it, G. del Guercio 

 (Nuore Relaz. R. Slaz. Ent. Agr., 1. ser., 1900, No. 3, pp. 87-94,. figs. 4).— The author 

 describes Fentaplm trknalis in all its stages and gives brief notes on its habits and life 

 history. Mention is made of a remedy previously recommended, which consists in 

 mixing double sulpho-carbonate of potash and lime in the soil. The fumes of 

 caj-bon bisulphid are given off from this compound, which destroy a certain pro- 

 portion of the lice. The author recommends also the destruction by means of carbon 

 bisulphid of the ants which attend this species of plant louse. 



Caterpillar plagues, with an account of the potato pests at Windsor, W. W. 

 Froggatt (Agr. duz. Xew South Wahs, 12 {1901), Xo.2, pp. 237-243, ph. i*).— The 

 author gives an account of an unusually extensive outbreak of injurious caterpillars. 

 The larvte of Plusia verticillata appeared in such numbers as to threaten the utter 

 destruction of potato fields. As many as 200 caterpillars were shaken from a single 

 plant. The caterpillars remained on the underside of uninjured leaves or clung close 

 to the leaf stalk after the leaves had been eaten. Notes are given on the life history 

 of this insect and on its other food plants. The larvae of Marnedrd cwingii attacked 

 potato plants in a different manner, gnawing into the main stalk, so that it soon 

 broke off. This species appeared to prefer alfalfa when this plant could be obtained 

 as food. 



Considerable damage was also done by the boll worm, an4 especially by Nysiusrini- 

 tor, which occurred in great numbers and injured the potato stems by sucking out 

 the juices. Spraying with Paris green gave fairly satisfactory results in combating 

 the caterpillars, but better results were obtained by fastening 2 boards together 

 inclined to one another at right angles, and hauling this apparatus betw'een the rows 

 immediately behind men who knocked off the caterpillars by means of brushes. A 

 crude sort of hopperdozer was also constructed, containing tar or kerosene, and the 

 caterpillars were brushed into this apparatus as it was drawn along. These machines 

 proved very effective. 



On the origin and distribution of Leptinotarsa decem-lineata, and the 

 part that some of the climatic factors have played in its dissemination, 

 AV.L. Tower {Froc. Amer. Assoc. Adv. ScL, 49 {1900), pp. 225-227) .—Xn abstract of 

 an article read by the author at this meeting. The parent form of the Colorado 

 l)otat() ])eetle is considered to be L. underein-liueata, which seems to have originated 

 in South America. The distribution of the beetle in North America was confined to 

 Mexico and the Kocky Mountains until about 1850. In 1859 the beetle was reported 

 as occurring in injurious numbers as far east as the 98th meridian, and during the 

 next 20 years it traveled eastward to the Atlantic Coast and covered the whole coun- 

 try to latitudes 37 to 47° north. The species is double brooded, but it is the second 

 brood which flies most and Avhich consequently is the most concerned in increasing 

 the distribution of the species. The beetle is not a strong flyer, and is unable to 

 make much progress against a strong wind. Its flight is therefore controlled largely 

 by the wind. During August and September there are certain well-defined wind 

 tracks, and the beetle has progressed most rapidly along these lines. The most rapid 

 advance has been made in the track of the westerly winds along the Lakes and 

 down the St. Lawrence Valley. At present the potato beetle is distributed through- 



