8 



FARMERS BULLETIN 860. 



fireworms. The best results are obtained if the flowage is applied 

 ■when the worms are about full grown, as at that time they suc- 

 cumb in fewer hours than when they are newly hatched. In the 

 pupa stage not less than 4 days' reflowage is required to extermi- 

 nate them. Just after hatching, when the worm is burrowing into 

 a leaf, instances have been observed Avhere 5 days of reflowing failed 

 to kill. 



One of the commonest and gravest mistakes in reflowing for this 

 pest is the holding of the flowage for too short a period. 



:^J(^ 





Fig. 5. — Improper reflowing of cranberry bog. Nearly every tip bears blackhead fireworms. 



Holding of the winter flowage until May 10, followed by reflowage 

 about May 28, keeping the vines completel}^ covered for not less than 

 48 hours, has proved a A'ery satisfactory method of ridding New 

 Jersey bogs of fireworms. If the worms are very abundant, how 

 over, they will be likely to destroy all of the crop during the period 

 May 10-May 28 by their feeding in the buds. This may be pre- 

 vented in large measure by a preliminary reflowing for 48 hours, or 

 by spraying, about May 17, Avith nicotine sulphate. (See formula 

 under " Spraying," p. 9. ) 



If it is necessary to draw the winter flowage in early April, two 

 reflows should be made where practicable, one about May 15, for 72 

 hours, and one about June 1, for 36 hours. 



