550 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



tlie use of sheet-iron covers inclosing circular areas 4 and 10 ft. in (liameter, 

 respectively, it was found that a maximum dose of 2 oz. of carbon bisulphid, 

 costing approximately 1 ct, completely eradicated the ant colony when the 

 ground was still quite wet following irrigation. With soil insufficiently moist 

 the results were not dependable even with much larger doses. The author con- 

 siders it practicable for an individual possessing an outfit of ten or more such 

 covers to take contract work on a large scale. 



In Arizona, the alfalfa seed chalcis fly, also known as the clover seed chalcis 

 fly. is one of the most destructive pests, not only on account of direct injury, but 

 through its keeping many alfalfa growers, who would otherwise be interested, 

 from attempting to make a seed crop. A trap crop experiment was carried on 

 during the year, in which a border of some 40 ft. all around a 10-acre field was 

 left uncut at the time of the second regular hay cutting on May 5. when the 

 remainder of the field was cut and the hay stacked . This border was allowed 

 to bloom and set seed which attracted the seed flies in the vicinity, it being the 

 only alfalfa having seed available for the ovipositiou of the eggs. This border 

 crop was cut and the hay removed from the field before the insects had sufficient 

 time to reach maturity. While it is believed that the bordering trap crop actu- 

 ally afforded considerable protection, the practical results appeared to be mostly 

 negative since the crop from the field averaged 210 lbs. per acre, which was not 

 more than would be expected under ordinary conditions. It is pointed out, how- 

 ever, that the experiment was conducted under unfavorable conditions since a 

 nearby grain field infested with bur clover produced myriads of the seed flies 

 of the first brood which spread over the surrounding fields. 



Report of the entomolog'ist, T. J. Headlee (Xetv Jersey Stas. Rpt. 1913, pp. 

 633-7S9, pis. If, figs. 3). — The insects of the year briefiy noted, information relat- 

 ing to which is largely based on correspondence, include various species of plant 

 lice, scale insects, the false apple red bug (Lygidea mendax), rhododendron lace 

 bug (Leptobyrsa explanata), flea-beetle {Epitrix cucumeris), which proved to 

 be the worst insect enemy of the potato during the year, fruit bark beetle 

 (Scolytus rngulosus), which attracted attention by its work on peach, hickory 

 bai'k beetle (S. quadrispinosus), etc. In.sects mentioned as of special interest, 

 either because new to Xew Jersey records or because of the danger of their 

 introduction, include an undetermined buprestid borer on Rosa nigosa nursery 

 stock, a pine scolytid {Myelophilus piniperda), which bores out the tips of the 

 central shoots of Scotch firs, a sawfly (KaUosysphinga doJirnii) new to New 

 Jersey found doing considerable damage to alders in the nursery, etc. 



In order to determine the relative value of a dusting mixture as compared 

 with the normal liquid treatment, a series of orchard and potato tests were 

 made. The dust was composed of 20 per cent powdered " Electro " arsenate of 

 lead and SO per cent very finely divided sulphur. Eleven and one-fourth lbs. of 

 paste, consisting of the same finely divided sulphur with about 50 per cent water, 

 and If lbs. of the powdered lead arsenate were used to each 50 gal. of water. 

 Application of the dust treatment to peaches at Glassboro is given credit for 

 exerting a better control of the plum curculio than the paste or self-boiled 

 lime-sulphur, and consequently for holding a much larger percentage of the 

 total set on the entire tree. The results of similar peach tests at Vineland 

 indicated "(1) that either dust or paste applied with sufficient frequency will 

 give reasonable control of plum curculio and scab fungus, (2) that when dust 

 or paste are applied no more frequently than self-boiled lime-sulphur arsenate 

 of lead they are not so efi'ective as the standard wash (3) that the paste sul- 

 phur and lead, which are much easier to make up and apply, are almost as 

 efficient in insect and scab fungus control as the self-boiled mixture, (4) that 



