764 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



and later in the season it flies from the clover to pea vines. English sparrows are 

 reported as feeding upon the pea louse to such an extent that the insects were exter- 

 minated in some localities. Cabbage worms and cabbage-root maggots caused cou- 

 siderable injury in certain localities. The cabbage plusia is reported as very numerous 

 and destructive throughout the State. Corn, esj^ecially sweet corn, was ])adly infested 

 with corn worms. The best means of controlling this insect is fall plowing. Hessian 

 fly caused great damage during 1900. The southern part of the State was compara- 

 tively exempt, while the northern portion was badly infested. Late-sown wheat 

 suffered as much or more than that which was sown earlier. Angoumois grain moth 

 caused an unusual amount of damage during 1900. The life history and habits of 

 this insect are described and the usual remedies are recommended. Potato beetle 

 attracted considerable attention, being considered the most injurious insect in some 

 parts of the State. Its attacks on tomatoes and eggplants were especially severe. 

 Blister beetles were destructive throughout the State on a large variety of plants, 

 including strawberry, tomato, potato, and beet; carrots and peppers were avoided. 

 Horn fly had largely disappeared for a number of years, but occurred in large num- 

 bers in 1900. Cetonia inda is reported as eating into fruits, including apples, plums, 

 and peaches. Daremma catalpie occurred in large swarms in several localities and 

 defoliated the catalpa badly. The life history of the insect is given. It is much 

 attacked by parasites and various diseases and large numbers of the broods may be 

 destroyed by destroying a few leaves on which the larvae first appear. Later, spray- 

 ing with Paris green will be found effective. 



Experiments with crude oil soap showed that this substance is unsatisfactory as a 

 winter treatment. Potash fish-oil soap with an admixture of tobacco, when used as 

 a winter application, was very injurious to vegetation, especially peach buds, and it 

 appeared that the tobacco added nothing to the killing power of the mixture. 

 Many complaints are reported as to the ineffectiveness of Paris green, and it is sug- 

 gested that possibly insects, such as potato beetles, are acquiring an increased resist- 

 ing power to this poison. In the work of the author as State entomologist special 

 attention is given to San Jose scale; but during the inspection of nurseries the sinu- 

 ate pear borer was considered sufficiently dangerous to debar nurserymen from 

 obtaining a certificate until the insect was destroyed. A brief summary is given of 

 the reports of correspondents throughout the State regarding injurious insects. 

 Insecticide work was continued in the experiment orchard. No trees were harmed 

 by applications of undiluted oil where the oil was applied as a spray. It was found, 

 however, that peach buds could be killed by drenching with oil. A few varieties of 

 apples were injured by fruit growers whose general success in the use of crude oil 

 had been previously very good. With regard to the dilution of oils, it is urged that 

 it is the oil which kills insects, and that the water simply serves to spread the oil 

 over a greater area. In the opinion of the author the application of undiluted oil is 

 to be preferred in all cases. A discussion is given to the subject of the varieties of 

 crude oil coming from different localities. 



A brief report is made of a trip to various countries of Europe for the purpose of 

 studying insect conditions and the state of economic entomology in those countries. 



The insect book, L. O. How.vrd {New York: Doubleday, Page & Co., 1901, pp. 

 XXVII-'r429, pis. 48, figs. 264). — In this volume the author presents a popular 

 account of bees, wasps, ants, locusts, flies, and various other groups of North Ameri- 

 can insects, exclusive of moths, butterflies, and beetles. Special attention is given to 

 the consideration of the life history of one or more numbers of each group in as great 

 detail as the present knowledge will permit. Various unknown points in connection 

 with the life history of each species are also noted for the purpose of directing inves- 

 tigation along those lines. Analytical tables are presented for the identification of 

 some of the more common species of each order of insects, and bibliographical refer- 

 ences are given to literature where further information may be obtained on these 



