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New York AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 265 
kerosene emulsion, and wet and dry poisoned baits; and of these 
insecticides the poisoned bran mixture proved the most efficient. 
This bait proved very acceptable to the cutworms and was deadly 
in its effects. The results of these tests were published in Bulletin 
No. 120, and onion growers were advised to use the dry bran bait 
as an efficient means of protecting their plantings. It is considered 
as fully as effective as hand picking, which was commonly em- 
ployed, and is much less expensive. For onions it is in every re- 
spect a satisfactory defense against cutworms, and its use is ad- 
vised for the protection of cabbages, tomatoes and other garden 
plants. 
POPLAR AND WILLOW BORER. 
(Cryptorhynchus lapathi L.) 
In recent years, there have been many complaints of the work 
of the poplar borer by nurserymen in this State, in extensive 
and continued injuries that occur in the growing of poplats and 
willows. In the year 1902, when the attention of the Station was 
called to the ravages of this species, some blocks of poplars and 
willows were so badly injured by this insect that some growers 
contemplated abandoning their culture. In many localities, the 
native willows along swamps, streams and canals were badly at- 
tacked, and injuries were being sustained by certain species of 
willows planted for ornamental purposes. 
Investigations** were commenced in 1905 to determine the habits 
of the insect and practical means of protecting nursery stock. The 
life history has now been completely studied. It was found that 
this species has one brood a year. Oviposition occurs in the corky 
portions of the wood, near a bud or branch or in the overgrowths 
caused by pruning, and takes place during August and September. 
The injury to the plants is caused by the larvae which hatch in 
about eighteen days after the depositing of the eggs and which 
girdle the trees and so weaken them that they often fall with the 
wind. The larval period lasts till the following July, when pupa- 
tion occurs. The beetles commence to appear about July 15, 
and they may be found until the middle of October. 
It was noticed in observing the habits of the beetles that they 
are external feeders, which suggested the possibility of using 
* Bul. 286 (1907). 
