70 



HOPS. 



[1899 



attention ; one of these is the observation that Wireworms can exist 

 (although they did not thrive) for three months upon an almost 

 infinitesimal amount of food, a fact which may be utilized for field 

 work, as showing that, ivith this pest, leaving the ground uncropped for 

 a time would be of no service in clearing the land of the infestation, 

 as it is with various other of our field attacks. The experiment with 

 the Castor-oil seed cake, showing its harniJessness to Wirewonn life, is 

 also a valuable record, both as a scientific fact and also as reliable 

 authority to turn to, which may save unnecessary outlay, and also 

 some disappointments in field experiments as to preventive treatment 

 for Wireworms. 



Hop Plea Beetle ; Hop-cone Beetle. PsylUodes attenuata, Koch. 



PsYLLioDEs ATTENUATA. — Beetle, and hind leg, magnified. 



The attack of the Hop Flea Beetle, or, as it may quite as correctly 

 be described, the Hop-cone Beetle, is one which it may be serviceable 

 to draw attention to, as it is at times very injurious in Hop-gardens 

 in maggot as well as in beetle condition. In the beetle state it does 

 harm by feeding on the leaves and shoots of the young growing bine, 

 and in maggot state is mischievous by feeding in the scales or bracts 

 of the cones. 



In regard to the beetles, the first observation that I received of 

 them was on April 22nd, 1882, when specimens were sent me from 

 Kingsnorth, Kent, by Mr. T. H. Hart (who was a trustworthy agri- 

 cultural entomologist), with the remark that this kind might be 

 considered ''the'' Hop Flea of the district — the damage caused by the 

 "Tooth-legged" or "Brassy" Flea Beetle being small in comparison. 

 He further noted that nine-tenths of many hundreds taken in Hop- 

 gardens proved to be of this species, but that at a distance from such 

 gardens he had seldom found it. 



Since then I have had no further notice of the attack of the beetles 



