MEXICAN CONCHT^ELA TN WESTERN TEXAS IN VM',. 6 



often with more or less serious results to ueinliboiMnii; crops. It 

 should also be noted that the longer time required to produce a seed 

 crop is favorable to the production of large numbers of the insects. 

 Windrows of alfalfa hay. originally intended for thrashing for the 

 seed, in the field of Mr. Carson, at Barstow, were found to harbor 

 many adult conchuelas wdiich were for the most part busily engaged 

 in destroying the last few seed clusters. It would thus appear that 

 the danger is not over with the cutting of the alfalfa, and that 

 thrashing should be attended to as soon as possible if the insects are 

 present and injury is to be avoided. 



The only extensive damage to alfalfa by this insect at Barstow 

 during 1905 was on the farm of Mr. J. P. Carson. Other growers, 

 owing to their experience of the pre^nous year, decided to grow no 

 seed crop; thus indirectly many suifered a loss which should be 

 charged up to the insect, as an average crop of seed has a value equal 

 to several times that of a single cutting for hay. Mr. Carson had 55 

 acres ready for cutting for the seed the last week in July, but the 

 damage by the bugs amounted to complete destruction, for although 

 the land was originally heavily seeded, there was not sufficient unin- 

 jured seed to defray the expense of thrashing. The loss Avas consid- 

 erably more than $1,500. in addition to the partial loss of a hay crop 

 in the extra time allowed for the maturit}' of the seed. 



Miller Brothers in 1905 fortunately avoided the destructive^ work 

 of the insects and made a fair seed crop. At BarstoAV the interval 

 between cuttings for hay is on the average about four and one-half 

 vieeks. Avhile for the maturity of the seed an additional period of 

 about three and one-half weeks is necessary. Other farm work ])re- 

 vented Miller Broth^rs from cutting their alfalfa when it Avas in 

 prime condition for cutting for hay. As the seed began to mature, 

 the scarcity of the pest wdiich had proven scf destructive the previous 

 season caused the OAvners to anticipate a successful seed crop. On Sep- 

 tember I'j the Avriter. who made a careful examination of the condi- 

 tion of the alfalfa field referred to, found the bugs scarce, as reported, 

 and the damage to the seed. Avhich was already mature. A-ery slight. 

 The yield of seed reported by Miller r>rothers for the 10 acres Avas 

 1,499 pounds. 



JNIILO :\rAIZE. 



On xVugust 11a field of Milo maize Avas examined at Barstow% and 

 it Avas found that in certain spots a considerable i)ro])ortion of the 

 seed Avas ruined, Avhile more or less ruined seed could be found 

 thi-oughout the field. According to the oAvner. ^Mr. Carson, the con- 

 cliuelas had l)een A'ery abundant a Aveek previous, as many as 25 of 

 the insects frequently being noted on a single seed head. They Aven^ 

 found to be generally distributed throughout the field on August 11, 



