February, '16] xMCCOLLOCH and HAYES: solenopsis molesta 37 



no doubt a number of factors which influence the variabiHty in the 

 rate of germination and the results thus far obtained indicate that 

 this measure of control is still in an experimental stage and cannot 

 always be relied upon. A study of the factors entering into this 

 variability of germination indicates that the vitality of the seed has 

 much to do with it. The seed used in the 1914 experiments came from 

 the crop of 1913. The prolonged drouth of 1913 greatly reduced the 

 vitality of the seed and it was difficult to obtain a high germinating 

 quality. Mr. B. S. Wilson, of the Agronomy Department of the Kan- 

 sas Experiment Station, stated to the writers that it was very difficult 

 to obtain sorghum seed germinating as high as 80 per cent, most of the 

 seed germinating much below this and some of it was as low as 4 per 

 cent. A glance at the results obtained in the check plantings will show 

 the low germination of the seed used. The year 1914 was also very 

 dry and the cjuality of seed was but little better than 1913 so that it 

 has been impossible to continue the germinating experiments further. 

 A large number of other repellents have been tried and some promising 

 results have been obtained. Kerosene and turpentine have been 

 found somewhat effective in repelling the ants but only for a short 

 time as the odor soon leaves the seed. "Black Leaf 40" has been 

 tried in a large number of germination tests during the past two years 

 and in no case has it injured the germination of the seed materially. 

 Little data have been obtained as to its effect as a repellent but in a 

 few cases where it was tried it has given favorable results. These 

 experiments on the effect of repellents on the germination of the seed 

 and the protection against Solenopsis molesta are being continued and 

 it is hoped that more definite results can be given later. 



Summary of Measures of Control. — From the -data thus far 

 accumulated the most practical measures of control against the kafir 

 ant in southern Kansas are: 



1. Fall plow the land. 



2. Work the field thoroughly in the spring with a disk or harrow. 

 - 3. Surface plant the crop. 



4. Plant early. This should be about May 10. 



LITERATURE CITED i 



1. Say, T., 1835. Descriptions of new North American Hymenoptera and obser- 

 vations on some already described. Boston Jom-. Nat. Hist., 1: 293-294. 



2. Fitch, A., 1856. Insects infesting fruit trees. First Rept. Noxious and 

 Beneficial Insects N. Y., pp. 129-130. 



^The page references given refer to citations to Solenopsis molesta and not to 

 the paging of the article cited. 



