PKOLIFKHA I inN !• ( t|.L< » W 1 N( i OVIIMiSITIOX IN SCiCARKS. 21 



The sec'Diid si^nilicant feature of Table \i is that sliowiii}^ the 

 cfTeet of fertiUzation upon the niortahty of the Aveevil without reirard 

 to the presence or absence of proUferation. A comparison of the 

 pereenta<j:es of niortahty sliown in tlie last column of tlie table 

 shows us that in the ease of s{iuares there is a dinVrence of 2.7 |)er 

 cent and in the case of bolls of 2.6 per cent in favor of the fertilized 

 plats. These dilTei-enc(\s are so nearly alike in both scpiares and l)()lls 

 as to mdicate that fertilization, as practiced in this case, would 

 increase the jjencral avera<;e mortality by a small percentage, but 

 tliat this increa.se was not due to any increase in the i)ro|)()rtion of 

 cases showinjjj j)roliferati<)n. 



One (general fact should be stated in regard to lield conditions in 

 connection with these o])servations. As has been stated, the experi- 

 ment was located iu tlu* Brazos bottom. Th(> aj>j)lication of fertil- 

 izer |iroduccd little apparent difference in th(> size of ])lants. i.nd the 

 difference between varieties was by no means as marked as is usmdly 

 the case. It is po.ssible that ii]")()n soil naturally less fertile <:reater 

 differences might have been ])ro(luced both as regarding varietal char- 

 acters and tlie effect of the aj^j^lication of fertilizer. From the data 

 at hand, however, we would not venture to jiredict that such differ- 

 ences would result in any greater increas(^ in th(> mort.-ility of the 

 weevil than has been found in the observations bere reported. 



PROLIFERATION FOLLOWING OVIPOSITION IN SftUARES. 



The next series of observations to be jiresented will deal with n 

 comparison of varieties in regard to the formation of ])roliferation 

 following e^^^ punctures in squares. The comparison includes obser- 

 vations made during tliree seasons and inchuh^s about 2.") varieties. 

 The table shows also the increa.se in mortality due. a))j)arently. to 

 jiroliferat ion. It is imj)ossii)le to obtain a close comj)aris()n of varie- 

 ties in this examination, as the conditions of .soil, cultivation, and 

 sea.son Avere so diverse, and the influence of these varying conditions 

 can not as yet be even cl(»sely estimated. In the following tabula- 

 tion ar(» included records where there were less than 11)0 observations 

 in the series. It is noticeable that the greatest differences in the 

 jierceiitage of .squares examined wliicli sliowed |)r(>lifer:ition occnrs 

 in ca.ses where examination was made of only a small mnnbcr of 

 squares and late in the .sea.son. It is evident that the data in these 

 cases are insufTicient as a basis for reliable conclusions regarding tho.se 

 particular varieties, but the ligur<>s may be included in the totals of 

 examinations made without materiallvdisturbing the general averages. 



