February. '22] brittain: the apple sucker 101 



conditions. It is unnecessary to use hay as a starter for the fires, as 

 they bum quite well without such assistance. We have used damp 

 vegetation to prevent the material from blazing up, but it seems likely 

 that watering with a sprinkling can would have the same effect and would 

 shorten the work. The fires can be ignited most rapidly by the use of 

 a torch. 



Numerous small fires are better than a few large ones. Where the 

 latter are used on a still day, the smoke has a tendency to ascend directly 

 upwards and be lost. It is of advantage also to have a number of 

 heaps held unlighted in reserve, so that in the event of a wind suddenly 

 arising or changing its original direction, these reserve heaps may be 

 transferred to the windward side of the orchard. 



The fall of rain during the process is not particularly to be feared, 

 since our experiments show that once started, the fires keep on burning, 

 even through a heavy shower. It is not advisable, however, to leave 

 heaps out long unlighted in the rain, as this will result in the extraction 

 of a large part of the nicotine. The fires will have to be drawn together 

 several times, as there is a tendency for a part of the outside of the heaj3 

 to remain unconsimied. In fact, it is advisable to pick up the smaller 

 fires by means of a fork and to add them to those burning more vigor- 

 ously. 



It must be borne in mind, however, that success could only be hoped 

 for in isolated orchards, or in cases where the operations covered a very 

 large area. Furthermore, to further lessen the amount of re infestation, 

 it would be advisable to defer treatment as late as possible before ovi- 

 position, viz., at the end of August. All our experiments, though suc- 

 cessful in controlling the insect at the time were quickly reinfested from 

 without. Only by cooperative efforts over a very large territory could 

 one even look for good results from this method. 



Mr. W. E. Britton. I would like to ask if dusting with nicDtine 

 was tried? 



Mr. W. H. Brittain. It was, and we found that if done at the right 

 time, it was very effective. That is not mentioning the cost at all. 

 It is a very easy insect to kill, either by dusting or spraying and either 

 in the adult or nymphal stages may be used. 



President George A. Dean. The next paper is '^' Spray Schedule 

 for Red Bugs in Pennsylvania," by S. W. Frost. 



