600 Keport of Entomologists of the 



their eggs the previous fall along the ditches and that the worms 

 had found food here during the fall and early spring. As eoon as 

 the onions were fairly up the cut-worms left the ditches and mi- 

 grated to the adjoining plats. In some instances only an irregular 

 patch of onions through the center of a plat would be left. The 

 remainder of the plat being as clean as though gone over with the 

 hoe the previous day. Some of the onion growers saved part of 

 their crop by cutting ditches ahead of the advancing horde of 

 cut-worms and keeping the ditches filled with water. 



Probably the species that did the most damage to onions was 

 Carneades messoria. It was also quite destructive to potatoes. 



The " Glassy Cut- worm " {Iladena devastatrix) did considerable 

 damage in asparagus fields. No other food plant was necessary for 

 the survival of this species in asparagus fields. 



In most localities on Long Island I usuall}^ found Muhleiihergia^ 

 or '•' Drop Seed," and Agropyruin or " Couch Grass." From the 

 fact that both these grasses form under-ground stems, they are 

 called "• Hoot " or " Joint Grasses," by many of the farmers. These 

 grasses were found in fields which were said to have been inconstant 

 cultivation for the past twenty years. In addition to these grasses 

 many of the cultivated fields are overgrown during fall and spring 

 with "Chick weed" {Stellaria media). Parsley often furnishes 

 plenty of food for the young worms during the fall and " Shepherds' 

 Purse" or "Pepper Grass," keeps them from starving in the spring. 

 A good many cut-worms have been noticed the past fall feeding on 

 "Chickweed " in squash fields. 



These observations help to confirm the value of the old remedy 

 of absolutely clean cultivation at all seasons of the year. 



Mr. Daniel Tail of Locust Valley, N. Y., tested bisulphide of 

 carbon on cut- worms, using the McGowen Injector. lS<o perceptible 

 headway was made against them by this treatment. 



The Peae Midge. — This pest is apparently well distributed over 

 Long Island. It was found at Flushing, Jamaica, Queens and 

 Locust Yalley, N. Y. The infested trees noticed at Locust Yalley 

 were principally Lawrence. In the other localities the variety of 

 the pear was not known. Part of the infested trees noticed at Flush- 

 ing and Queens lost all their fruit during the month of June. 



Arrangements were made for some observations on the "Pear 

 Midge " in the pear orchards of Mr. J. R. Cornell and Mr. S. B. 

 Huested at Newburgh and at Blauvelt, ]^. Y. 



