231 



required ; for still larger amounts the beans or peas should be placed 

 in a bin to a depth of two or three feet and mixed with a small 

 quantity of hme and the whole covered with a layer of lime | to 1 in. 

 thick. This will not injure the beans or peas for food or seed 

 purposes, proxdded they are sifted and then washed before use for any 

 other purpose than seed. For dry heating storage should be in a 

 fairlv air-tight room or building, and the temperature raised to 120° 

 or 140° F. Higher temperatures will not injure them except for seed 

 purposes, and the temperature should be maintained from three to 

 four hours. Another method is to dip the beans or peas in hot water 

 at about 140° F. for 15 to 20 minutes, after which they should be 

 dried and stored in tight sacks. 



Metcalf (Z. p.) & UxDERHiLL (G. W.). The Tobacco Flea Beetle.— 



North Carolina Agric. Exp. Sta., W. Raleigh, Bull. 239, April 

 1919, 47 pp., 34 figs. [Received 1st April 1920.] 



The tobacco flea-beetle [Epitrix parvula] is one of the worst pests of 

 tobacco in North CaroUna. The adults hibernate near the tobacco 

 fields under leaves or grass or in other suitable places, emerging in 

 the spring as soon as any food-plant is available. There are four 

 generations a year, but the stages overlap so much that they cannot 

 be readily distinguished. The eggs, which hatch in about a week, are 

 laid from April to September near the surface of the groimd under 

 the tobacco plant. The larvae feed on the roots of the plant from 

 May to October, and pupate in small cells just beneath the surface of 

 the ground. 



The greater part of the damage is done by the adult beetles, which 

 eat holes in the leaves both in the seed-beds, where it is sometimes 

 impossible to obtain a stand of plants, and after transplanting, when 

 the plants are sometimes killed. The indirect loss due to the 

 consequent weakening of the plant is still greater, but the direct loss, 

 which alone can be accurately measured, is more than 100 lb. an acre. 



The most important methods of control are directed to the plants 

 in the seed-bed, which ensures a vigorous crop and prevents later 

 damage by the beetle, precautions at transplanting time,and destruction 

 of suckers after harvest. The seed-beds should be located as far as 

 possible from good hibernating quarters, and if necessary an area 

 round the beds should be burnt in early winter. The plants should 

 be shielded by a beetle-proof canvas cover over a broad frame. A 

 trap-bed should be provided near by, and this should be dusted or 

 sprayed weekly. If in spite of these precautions the beetles obtain a 

 footing, dusting or s|)raying should be carried out weekly. After 

 transplanting, all tobacco and any Solanaceous plants (on which, in 

 the absence of tobacco, the beetles will feed) should be destroyed, 

 and the bed treated with a heavy application of poison. 



The spray recommended is made of 1 lb. lead paste to 10 gals, 

 water, but dusting, \nt\i lead arsenate or lime, 1 lb. of the poison to 

 4 lb. of fine sifted wood ashes, is simpler and cheaper. When trans- 

 planting, all plants should be dipped in a solution of lead arsenate 

 (1 lb. paste or ^ lb. powder in 5 gals, water). Only the leaves should 

 be dipped, and the excess poison gently shaken off. After the crop is 



