October, '14] FELT: FOREST INSECTS 375 



conditions which were extremely favorable to the multiplication of 

 bark borers. We would not be understood as holding that the above 

 data were conclusive, though they may be very suggestive. It is 

 obviously impractical at the present time to safeguard against drought, 

 at least upon any extended scale, though the time may come when 

 such data as that given above can be used to advantage in urging 

 more comprehensive measures for the conservation of moisture and 

 indirectly the control of certain classes of insect outbreaks. 



The extensive plantings of white pines in the reforestation work 

 of recent years in New York has produced conditions very favorable 

 for injury by the white pine weevil, Pissodes strobi Peck. A number 

 of requests for assistance in combating this pest were received, and 

 the past season it was possible to carry out some cooperative experi- 

 ments at Cooperstown which are at least worthy of record. In co- 

 operation with Mr. Waldo C. Johnston of Cooperstown, the efficacy 

 of hand collecting was tried on an area of fifty acres set with about 

 60,000 pines, the trees being approximately two to three feet high. 

 Moderately large insect nets were used, the men simply tapping the 

 plants so as to jar off the insects. The work was started a little late, 

 namely, about May 21, and the trees carefully collected over four times 

 at intervals of approximately four or five days. At the outset two to 

 four weevils were caught per tree and toward the last onty one or two 

 insects per row of probably 400 trees were to be obtained. The cost 

 of these four collections amounted to $G4 or only SI. 28 per acre. An 

 examination, Julj^ 8, resulted in our not being able to find any weevils. 

 It is probable that three collectings, particularly if the first was a 

 little earlier, namely, in the first or second week in May and the other 

 two at about ten-day intervals, would have resulted in capturing most 

 of the weevils at less expense. There is no reason why, wdth improved 

 devices, the cost of this operation could not be materially lowered. 

 The fact that adults may live two or even three years and deposit 

 eggs each season is a potent reason why collecting is more desirable 

 than the destruction of infested shoots. 



The above, taken in connection with experience of more than a 

 decade ago, which showed that systematic collecting from a small 

 group of pines, under what might be considered average woodland 

 conditions, resulted in practical immunity from the pine weevil for a 

 period of at least five years, leads us to believe that this method is 

 worthy of a most thorough test. 



