419 



to drop ; Epicaerus formidulosus (broad-nosed weevil), specially 

 abundant and attacking foliage of cotton and tobacco and also 

 injuring beans; a large yellow bug, Spartocera (Corecoris) conflueiita, 

 causing severe injury to tomatoes ; Leptinotarsa decemlineala 

 (Colorado potato beetle), reported for the first time from the Gulf 

 Coast of Florida and apparently spreading southward ; a Membracid, 

 Platycorus quadrivittata, which was more common than usual, 

 mainly infesting oalcs ; and Derelomxs basalts (papaw weevil), injuring 

 cotton squares in June and also taken on beans. 



Several hundred individuals of the CoccinelUd, Delphastus catalinae, 

 were imported from California and liberated in different parts of the 

 State, where it seems likely that they will become established. 



Nezara viridula (pumpkin bug) was less destructive during the 

 autumn of 1917 than during 1916. It has been ascertained that 

 hibernation is incomplete. Some indivi(^uals can be found under 

 loose bark of dead trees, but others remain all the winter on green 

 plants feeding actively, although quiescent during the coldest months. 

 The nymphs become adults about the middle of November, and no 

 breeding takes place until late in the following February. The radish 

 is the preferred food-plant, especially when seed pods are present, 

 but serious damage is also caused to tomatoes. The planting of 

 radishes as a trap- crop round the edges of tomato fields is suggested. 

 Experiments to control Nematodes, by means of the application 

 of calcium cyanamide to the soil, have been continued. Complete 

 eradication was not effected, but the numbers were greatly reduced. 

 For reasons as yet unexplained, the application of one ton per acre 

 caused scorching of the crops in some cases, whereas on other plots 3 tons 

 per acre were used without any ill effects. With cyanide-ammonium 

 sulphate there is less danger of injury to crops, and the effect on 

 Nematodes is practically the same. Experiments were, made using 

 100 to 800 lb. per acre in solution or powder form over the entire 

 surface of the soil. With the use of 300 lb. or less there was no 

 appreciable decrease in the mmibers of Nematodes, but the growth 

 of plants on lots thus treated was considerably increased. 



Summer fallow resulted in the same reduction of Nematodes ae 

 when 600 lb. of cyanide or one ton of cyanamide was used per acre, 

 and it would seem that better results would be obtained from the 

 growing of resistant plants on infested soil if the surface was frequently 

 stirred. For this reason it is suggested that cowpeas and velvet 

 beans should be planted in rows, and experiments are now being 

 conducted on these lines. 



ScHoYEN (T. H.). Beretning om Skadeinsekter i Land- og Havebruget 



i 1917. [Report on Agricultural Insect Pests in 1917.] - 

 Christiania, 1918, 73 pp. 



Of the numerous insects recorded in this paper the following are 

 the principal ones of economic importance. In Hedemarken numerous 

 barley fields were completely devastated owing to a combined attack 

 of Oscinella frit, L., Miris dolahratus, L., Pediculoides graminum, 

 E. Rent., and a fungus, Pleospora teres. M. dolahratus is a new pest 

 to Norway. Anthonomus pomorum was very common in 1917, and 

 it was proved by experiments that the greater part of the weevils 



