New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 31 



more satisfactory, it is recommended for the treatment of the scale. 

 Directions for its preparation and appHcation are given in Bulletin 

 228. 



The peach snout beetle (Anamefis granulatus Say). — Observations 

 upon this insect were begun last year and are being continued. It has 

 apparently not been recognized as a species of economic importance 

 till this year when its destructive attacks upon young peach trees 

 entitle it to a place upon the list of injurious insects. The life history 

 of this species is not fully known. The beetles make their appearance 

 in early May. They feed at night upon the foliage, and during the 

 day remain partially concealed in the ground. Some new facts upon 

 the egg-laying habits were obtained. The eggs were usually de- 

 posited in folds of the leaves or between two leaves, drawn and glued 

 together. 



The habits of the beetles indicate two methods of treatment ; first, 

 catching the beetles at night by means of a curculio catcher; and 

 second, spraying trees with arsenate of lead once before buds burst 

 and again after blossoms have fallen. 



horticultural department. 



Thinning apples. — Observations have been made on the effect of 

 thinning apples upon the color, size and market value of the fruit; 

 also upon the amount and regularity of fruit production. The thin- 

 ning was done during June and July. The experiments were con- 

 tinued with the same trees for four consecutive years. These trees 

 were mature, in good condition and well cared for. Under certain 

 conditions thinning improved the size, color and market value of the 

 fruit, but with the trees under experiment it had no appreciable effect 

 upon either the amount or regularity of fruit production. 



Spray apparatus and spray mixtures. — No small part of the Sta- 

 tion's correspondence relates to plant diseases and injurious insects 

 and the treatment of the same. To assist in answering questions 

 which are appearing in such correspondence and to put in concise, 



