483 



Hunter (W. D.). The Boll-weevil Problem, with Special Reference 

 to Means of Reducing Damage. — U. S. Dept. Agric. Washington, 

 D.C., Farmers' Bull. no. 848, August 1917, 40 pp., 6 figs. 

 [Received 9tli September 1918.] 



This bulletin deals at length with the history and extent of the 

 invasion of the United States by the cotton boll-weevil [Anthonomns 

 gmndis], and gives a description and life-history of the pest. 



Special emphasis is laid on the foUowiiig pomts that have a direct 

 bearing upon control : (1) The weevil has no food-plant bvit cotton ; 

 (2) the mortality of the weevil during the winter is very high ; (3) the 

 emergence from hibernating quarters during the spring is slow and 

 prolonged imtil well into the summer ; (4) early in the season, owing 

 to comparatively low temperatures, its development is much slower 

 than during the summer months ; (5) the drying of infested squares 

 soon destroys the immature stages contained therein ; (6) the weevil 

 is attacked by many different species of insect enemies : and (7) it 

 has little power of emergence when buried under wet soil. 



Following from these facts, the all-irapoitant step in boll-weevil 

 control is ploughing under, oi' uprooting and burning the plants in 

 autumn. Clean cultivation, the early preparation of the land, the 

 early planting of early- maturing varieties with fertilisers where 

 necessary, and the proper spacing of the plants, are also important 

 acces.sory precautions. Attempts to poison the larva are not advised, 

 unless its attack begins at an abnormally early date in the summer. 

 Special measures for destroying the adult are also useless. 



Orton (W. a.) & Chittenden (F. H.). Control of Diseases and 

 Insect Enemies of the Home Vegetable Garden. -U.S. Dept. 

 Agric. Washington, D.C.. Farmers' Bull. no. 856, November 

 1917, 72 pp., 81 figs. [Received 9th September 1918.] 



This bulletin is a popular resume of the usual control measures 

 employed agamst the common insect enemies and diseases of home- 

 grown vegetables, which, for ease in reference, are arranged in 

 alphabetical order, each with its peculiar pests and diseases. 



Chittenden (F. H.) & Orton (W. A.). How to increase the Potato 

 Crop by Spraying. — U.S. Dept. Agric, Washington, D.C.,Fsivmevs' 

 Bull. no. 868. September 1917, 22 pp., 22 figs. [Received 

 9th September 1918.] 



The insects damaging potatoes dealt with in this bulletin are 

 all leaf-feeders and may be controlled by means of the usual arsenical 

 sprays. In order of importance they comprise : — Leptinotarsa 

 decetnlineata, Say (Colorado potato beetle), of which both the larvae 

 and adults are destructive ; Epicauta p)^^^^''^^y^'^'^'^>'^^^^ 1^6 G., 

 E. nmrginata, F., and E. vittata, F. (blister beetles), prompt application 

 of remedies at the very outset of attack being necessary to protect 

 the crop ; Epitrix ciicumeris, Harv., E.fuscula, Cr., and E. parimla, F. 

 (flea-beetles) ; Feltia annexa, Treit. (cut-worm), the best remedy for 

 which is poisoned bait ; and Empoasca mali, Le B. (bean leaf-hopper), 

 Macrosiphum solanifolii, Ashm. (potato aphis) and Myzus persicae, 

 Sulz. (spinach aphis), all of which are readily controlled by spraying 

 with nicotine sulphate. 



