94 SOME INSECTS INJURIOUS TO TRUCK CROPS. 



beetle, stated that the larvse of this species threatened to devour his 

 this year's spring-set asparagus to the ground. But after one thor- 

 ough spraying with arsenate of lead it was difficult to find any but 

 dead larva^ on the plants. Successive sprayings were of course neces- 

 sary, because the beetles continued to come from neighboring gardens 

 to deposit eggs on the plants and because the developing plants con- 

 tinually presented fresh unsprayed foliage for larval food. 



Mr. Eames stated positively that arsenate of lead adhered well, 

 even through several rains, just as its various promoters claimed — 

 a fact which justifies its use in any case even at more initial cost 

 than other poisons which might be used. He also expressed the view 

 that asparagus growers generally should be impressed with the fact 

 that, because of the tendency to spray only once, additional informa- 

 tion should be given of the value of extra applications. In conclusion, 

 he stated that he believed arsenate of lead was a specific for this 

 class of insects. 



Our correspondent is undoubtedly right. It seems to be as nearly 

 a specific for asparagus beetles as anything that can be obtained, 

 provided it is applied according to directions and that applications 

 are repeated as often as necessary. The trouble is that many truck 

 growers, after spraying a single time, consider that the matter should 

 then be dropped, and if the desired result is not produced, i. e., if the 

 trouble is not wholly stopped, the spraying is condemned or at any 

 rate the insecticide is discontinued, while all that is necessary for 

 the entire season is a second or third application. 



A NOTE ON THE ASPARAGUS MINER. 



The asparagus miner {Agroniyza simplex Loew) was reported by 

 Mr. I. J. Condit in the vicinity of Antioch, Cal., August 10, 1908, 

 where the common asparagus beetle was also abundant. The miner 

 was said to be equally numerous and stalks showing infestation were 

 received. The miner-infested stalks could generally be detected by 

 their roughened appearance near the ground. 



This species was also taken by Mr. Condit at Oakley and it seems 

 probable, since the common asparagus beetle is found in both local- 

 ities, that it is becoming generally distributed in California. In one 

 place at Oakley Mr. Condit observed the miner (|uite common on some 

 stalks, but it did not appear to be equally common over the entire 

 ranch. 



During October, 1908, the writer observed this species well estab- 

 lished on asparagus in the vicinity of Portsmouth, Va. In October, 

 also, Mr. J. B. Norton reported very severe injury to asparagus in 

 the vicinity of Concord, Mass. The roots of the plants were not 

 only girdled, but the miners worked up the stalks some inches above 

 the ground. 



