678 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



effectiveness in the control of chinch bugs. It was found that by giving 2 or 3 treat- 

 ments at intervals sufficient to allow the chinch bugs which fall off uninjured to crawl 

 upon the corn again, badly infested corn could be almost completely freed from 

 chinch bugs, but corn was almost sure to be somewhat injured unless care was 

 exercised. 



Insects and diseases of tobacco, M. T. Cook and W. T. Horne (Estac. Cent. 

 Agron. Cuba Bui. 1, pp. 23, pis. 7). — In this account the author devotes attention 

 chiefly to the tobacco horn worm, cutworms, species of Prodenia, Epitrix parvula, 

 cigarette beetle, and other less important tobacco insects. 



A test was made of fumigating infested tobacco with bisulphid of carbon and 

 hydrocyanic-acid gas. These materials were used at a greater strength than was 

 required to destroy the cigarette beetles or other insect pests. Apparently the 

 quality of the tobacco was not injured thereby. Notes are also given on other 

 insecticide treatments for tobacco insects together with an account of mosaic disease, 

 tobacco leaf spot, Orobanche ramosa, and other parasites. 



Insect pests of the carrot, P. Lesne (Jour. Agr. Prat., n. ser., 10 (1905), No. 27, 

 pp. 16-19, pi. 1). — The larvpe of the crane fly are reported as causing great damage to 

 carrots. Notes are also given on Psila rosee, Depressaria nervosa, etc. 



The potato moth, C. Fuller (Natal Agr. Jour, and Min. Rec, 8 (1905), No. 9, 

 pp. 873-876, pi. 1). — A serious outbreak of this insect is reported in which about 25 

 per cent of the potatoes on one estate were destroyed for several years in succession. 

 The habits of this pest are briefly discussed. 



In preventing serious injury from the potato moth it is desirable that infested 

 seed should never be planted; the soil should be thoroughly cultivated and care be 

 taken not to leave any tubers exposed since they may become affected in the field. 

 The moths may be captured to some extent by the use of lantern traps. Potatoes 

 should be stored in rooms, barrels, or other receptacles which the moths can not 

 enter. Bags do not protect the tubers from infestation. 



Caterpillars which may hatch upon the potatoes between the time of digging and 

 storing may be destroyed by dipping the tubers in a solution of corrosive sublimate. 



The social org-anization and breeding- habits of the cotton-protecting- 

 kelep of Guatemala, 0. F. Cook ( TJ. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Ent. Bui. 10, tech. ser., 

 pp. 55) . — The report presents evidence to show that the breeding habits of the Guate- 

 malan kelep and its methods of founding new colonies are essentially different from 

 those of true ants and quite strikingly resemble those of the honey bee. 



In the author's opinion this type of organization will facilitate the establishment 

 of the kelep in the cotton fields of the South, provided the insect is able to with- 

 stand the climatic conditions of that region. The author discusses in considerable 

 detail the social organization of the kelep with comparative notes on the organiza- 

 tion of other social insects, including the ants, termites, bees, bumblebees, etc. 



As a result of a continued study of this insect it is believed that it furnishes con- 

 siderable protection against the boll weevil, does not attack plants, is not a true ant, 

 and may be established in colonies in the Texas cotton fields. 



Spraying- experiments for San Jose scale in 1905, T. B. Symons and A. B. 

 Gahan (Maryland Sta. Bui. 107, pp. 57-62).— Spraying is now recognized in Mary- 

 land as a part of the general routine of orchard work, and satisfactory results 

 obtained from intelligent spraying indicate the profit from this operation. 



During the year a number of insecticides were tested. Kerosene limoid in a 20 

 per cent solution interfered very little with the breeding of San Jose scale and the 

 trees were nearly as badly infested in the fall as were untreated trees. In 25 per cent 

 solution the insecticide was slightly more satisfactory, but in no case did the results 

 compare with lime, sulphur, and salt. 



