166 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Tests of insecticides, H. T. Febnald {Massachusetts Sta. Rpt. 1912, pt. 2, 

 pp. 88-91). — Several insecticides were tested during the year but no attempt 

 was made to draw final conclusions as to their value. 



Entomoid, claimed to be a combination of lime-sulphur and a miscible oil, 

 applied at the strength of 1 : 50 killed many San Jos§ scales, but a sufficient 

 number were left so that the trees were about in their former condition at least 

 3 mouths earlier than was the case in 1911. Nicine, used in large amounts in 

 drills to protect corn from wireworms and about the base of onions to protect 

 them from the onion maggot, had no injurious effect on the plants but did not 

 give absolute protection from a light infestation of wireworms nor afford a 

 high degree of protection from the maggot. Soil Fumigant and Insecticide 

 was applied to parts of the same com plats as Nicine to protect corn from 

 wireworms but the infestation proved to be insufficient to enable a determina- 

 tion of its value. Tests with two commercial brands of zinc arsenite applied at 

 the rate of 1 lb. to 10 gal. of water to elm, maple, and wild cherry leaves 

 showed that both adhered well and destroyed the elm leaf beetle larvae, but 

 injured the leaves of all three trees. Both applications are believed to have 

 been too strong. 



The common house roach as a carrier of disease, R. C. Longfellow {Amer. 

 Jour. Pu^. Health, 3 {1913), No. 1, pp. 58-6i).— Attention is called to the role 

 of this insect in the dissemination of various species of bacteria. 



Notes on the occurrence of the woolly aphis, Schizoneura lanigera, in the 

 core of apples, T. R. Hewitt {Jour. Econ. Biol., 8 {1913), No. 2, pp. 95-98, 

 fig. 1). — The author has found the core of Newtown Pippins from California 

 that were purchased from a Dublin fruit dealer to be infested with 8. lanigera. 

 In 3 of 7 apples examined the aphids were alive. It is stated that externally 

 the apples did not appear to be infested, except for a little mildewy appearance 

 of the eye, but on being cut in two through the core the aphids were easily 

 seen. There is a small channel connecting the eye with the core in this apple 

 and through this channel the aphids gained access to the core. This channel, 

 however, is not common in many varieties. 



" The core presented a white moldy appearance, due to the woolly secretion 

 of the aphids. In the apples in which the aphids were dead the cores were 

 moldy, due to the growth of some fungus, which was probably secondary. The 

 damage done to the core was very slight, as the aphids did not api>ear to have 

 pierced through the carpels. In one apple, which was rather more badly 

 infested than the others, the seeds presented a damaged appearance, but the 

 flesh of the apple was not injured In any instance." 



The economic importance of such infestations is found in the possible dis- 

 semination of this pest in apples to uninfested orchards or districts. 



Report on peach aphis investigations during late winter and early spring, 

 1912, C. B. Hardenbebg {Agr. Jour. Union So. Africa, 6 {1913), No. 2, pp. 

 224-235). — This is a report of studies of the life history and of control experi- 

 ments with the black and green peach aphids in the Transvaal. 



The black peach aphis is said to be attacked by a hymenopterous parasite and 

 2 syrphids, Xanthogramma scutellaris and an undetermined species. The green 

 peach aphis suffers in addition from the attack of a third species of syrphus 

 fly, and 3 species of lady beetles have been found to feed upon it. Observations 

 of the life cycle of X. scuteUaris are reported. 



Tobacco extract in a solution containing about 0.082 per cent nicotin is the 

 most effective strength and no advantage is gained in using a stronger solution. 

 The green peach aphis can be effectively kept under control by 3 thorough 

 sprayings about 5 days apart, the first being applied as soon as the first leaves 

 open out. 



