No. 6. 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



473 



Stating the results so as to show the increase in yield of air-dry 

 rye, straw and grain harvested when the grain was still in the dough 

 stage, in pounds per acre, the comparison is as follows: 



Rock and potash fertilizer, 



Complete fertilizer with dried blood, 



Original inert materials, 



Acid treated materials, 



509.0 

 320.1 

 717.0 



It is well established that the rate of bacterial change experienced 

 bv the same material in different soils, is widely variable. I think 

 it unwarranted, therefore, to assume that results so favorable as 

 those above stated, will occur with acid-treated leather, hair, etc., 

 on all soils. It is my judgiueiit, however, — and this is supported 

 by the results of tests made earlier at the Massachusetts Experiment 

 Station by Lindsey upon acid-treated leather and by Haskins upon 

 acid-treated peat, that the fertilizer manufacturers are correct in 

 claiming that the acid-treatment of most of these materials result 

 in a very marked increase in the availability of their nitrogen. 



REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST 



By PROF. FRANKLIN MENGES 



The season of 1911 must have been in many ways favorable to the 

 propagation of some insect life; especially has this been true of 

 the Hessian fly fCecidc>riitjia destructor) and the common locust (Ris- 

 paj or leaf mining and skeletoning beetle, scientifically known as 

 the Oclontata Dorsalis. 



The Hessian fly has destroyed from 10 to 50 per cent, of the wheat 

 crop of the State and has, therefore, cost us millions of dollars. 

 Spraying for this insect is impossible and the insect enemies, which 

 number so far as our present knowledge goes, from 10 to 14 different 

 species, seem to lose absolute control of this fly during some seasons, 

 while during other seasons they keep it in subjection and little dam- 

 age is done. 



