768 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Report on the protection of olive culture from an enemy which threatens 

 the destruction of olives, Borriglioxe {BuI. Agr. Algerie et Tunii<ie, 7 {1901), Xo. 

 20, pp. 500-508). — The olive fly {Dacus oleie) is considered one of the greatest enemies 

 of olive culture. The larvaj feed on the pulp of the olive, completely destroying it. 

 The olives which are stung fall to the ground prematurely, and furnish an oil of an 

 inferior quality. Of the many remedies which have been proposed for combating 

 this insect the author considers none as permanently effective, except where all the 

 residents of a given locality cooperate in fighting the insect. For destruction of the 

 larvfe while hibernating in soil, carbon bisulphid is recommended as effective. Brief 

 notes are also given on Phlceotribus olex. 



Apple maggot, F. W. Card and G. E. Adams (Rhode Islaiid Sta. Bpt. 1901, 

 p. 227). — Observations in 1899 indicated that deep plowing of orchards in spring 

 might serve as a check on the apple maggot. The results obtained in 1900 were not 

 encouraging; fully 75 per cent of the fruit was affected in an orchard which had 

 been treated in this way. Further experiments are being conducted for the purpose 

 of determining the conditions which influence this excessive infestation. 



Notes on the life history of Alsophila pometaria, W. E. Hinds {Canad. Ent., 

 33 {1901), No. 7, j)p. 185-190, figs. 7). — The insect is described in its various stages, 

 and notes are given on its history and life habits. The egg mass, containing 220 

 eggs, was found on the golden willow on March 14. The mass was kept at the tem- 

 perature of the laboratory until April 23, when the larvae began to emerge. During 

 the last larval stage the insect feeds voraciously, but becomes sluggish near the end 

 of the stage. The larvae enter the earth and form cases of soil particles, held 

 together by silk threads. The pup^e were allowed to remain in the soil until Octo- 

 ber, when an examination disclosed the fact that all of them had been destroyed, 

 probably by red ants. 



Erinose of the vine, F. T. Bioletti and E. H. Twight (California Sta,. Bui. 136, 

 pp. 7, figs. 5). — This disease is characterized by swellings of the upper surface of the 

 leaves, with depressions on the lower surface. When numerous, the swellings may 

 cause deformation of the leaves, but no change of color. The leaves retain their 

 green color until late in the season. The lower surface of the infested leaves becomes 

 covered with a felt of white hairs, which later in the season becomes brown. 



The cause of the disease is the presence of a mite, Phgtopius vitis. A description of 

 the mite is given. The 4-legged larvpe hibernate in the bark of the vine or among 

 the bud scales. The mite rarely causes serious injury to the vine; occasionally, 

 however, it may interfere with the growth of the vines and reduce the crop to some 

 extent. The worst infestations observed in California were on Flame Tokay and 

 Mission varieties. The mite was also found on Zinfandel and Muscat. The use of 

 sulphur checks the progress of this disease, and where this treatment is regularly 

 applied the mite does not occur to any great extent. Cuttings from affected vines 

 may be disinfected by placing them in water at a temperature of 122° F. for 10 

 minutes. 



Means of combating Tortrix ambiguella in spring and summer, J. Laborde 

 {Prog. Agr. et Fit. {Ed. L'Est), 22 {1901), Xo. 23, pp. 693-707).— The author makes 

 a detailed report on the various methods which have been used for destroying this 

 insect in its different stages. During the spring and summer T. ambiguella and 

 Endemis hotrana occur in vineyards in all stages, arid artificial methods of destruc- 

 tion must be chosen with reference to the special conditions of each case. The 

 methods which have been most successfully used for destruction of the moths are 

 the use of lantern traps and catching by means of rackets moistened with liquid 

 insecticides. The conditions which are most favorable to the use of lantern traps 

 are dark nights without rain and with a moderate temperature. Notes are given 

 on the numbers of moths captured by these methods in different months of the 

 year. In the destruction of the eggs various insecticides have been used, including 



