372 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



which are much more to their Hking, consequently there is a strong 

 tendency to collect on near-by unsprayed foliage whenever possible. 

 This makes comparisons between sprayed and unsprayed vines 

 side by side or even within two or three rows of each other of slight 

 value, and has rendered it very difficult to find conditions suitable 

 for an exhaustive test of poisons. Another important adverse 

 factor is the liability of the insects forsaking the experimental 

 area, not because there is poison on the vines but for some unknown 

 reason. A number of such cases have been brought to our notice 

 and conclusions must therefor be reached with extreme caution. 



The results obtained with these materials in 1902, were exceed- 

 ingly unsatisfactory and it was then thought that the very unfavor- 

 able weather afforded at least a partial explanation therefor. The 

 experiments were continued in 1903, and a series of plots for test- 

 ing the relative merits of arsenate of lead, paris green and poisoned 

 bordeaux mixture in connection with cultivating for the destruc- 

 tion of pupae and collecting of the beetles, were planned. The 

 spraying operations were conducted as outlined but owing to the 

 likelihood of there being large numbers of eggs deposited in the 

 sprayed areas, at the last moment it was decided to collect over 

 the same and thus save the vineyard from serious injury it could 

 ill afford, as it had suffered severely the preceding year. The 

 areas infested with root worms, were carefully examined in the 

 spring of 1904, for the purpose of finding if possible, thrifty growing 

 vineyards, moderately to rather badly infested with beetles, and 

 after an extended search one was selected near the center of West- 

 field, known as the CoAvden vineyard, and another in Portland, 

 belonging to E. W. Skinner. Grubs were abundant ill both in 

 early spring, but for some reason or other comparatively few 

 beetles emerged or were to be found later in the Cowden vineyard 

 at Westfield, and consequently most of our experimental work 

 with arsenical poisons, was limited to Portland. The experi- 

 mental area consisted of about one acre of nearly level vineyard 

 and comprised 10 rows, the southern portion being more infested 

 than the northern. June 30 this experimental area was sprayed 

 very thoroughly indeed; four barrels of spray and 15 pounds of 

 arsenate of lead were used. Two nozzle extensions with hose of 

 different lengths were employed, one with two and the other with 

 three cyclone nozzles. One man gave particular attention to the 

 upper portion of the row and the other following behind to the 

 lower, the spraying being repeated on the opposite side of the row 

 and tht:s the foliage was covered as thoroughly as possible with 



