'74 ANNUAL REPORT. 



which deposits eggs which in turn are hatched out, thus performing 

 the various evolutions of insect life. 



Mr. Busse. Some three weeks ago I noticed small worms upon my 

 plants that were very numerous and I thought perhaps they were the 

 leaf-roller, but they were much smaller. 



Mr. Gibbs. This insect when in the form of a pupa eats holes 

 through the leaves. Here is a leaf which has one of the insects inside. 

 You can see it by opening the leaf. [Illustrating.] There he is, a 

 very lively little delegate; if you are going to catch him, you have got 

 to be spry. 



Prof. Porter, In reference to the leaf-roller, I would say that I 

 have had a little experience which may be of interest. Two years ago 

 this last winter I had a very fine bed of Wilson's Albany, Glendale, 

 Crescent Seedling and Minnetonka Chief; they were in very fine con- 

 dition and growing in hills. I mulched the plants; the rows were 

 four feet apart — plenty of room. As the ground was very light or 

 sandy, I thought I would mulch heavily with well-rotted manure so as 

 to protect the plants through the winter. In putting on the manure 

 the outer edges of the bed were not covered. The next spring as soon 

 as the plants began to develop I found the leaf-roller on every single 

 plant, so thick in the bod^of the bed that the plants were all des- 

 troyed; in the outer borders where the mulching had not extended, 

 there were very few insects, and the plants were alive and vigorous 

 while all the rest of the bed of plants was entirely destroyed. Last 

 spring I commenced an investigation of the habits of this leaf-roller. 

 Not knowing that the subject was coming up for discussion I did not 

 bring my notes with me; but this fall, at the State fair, I will show 

 3'ou there the insect in all stages of development; I have them pre- 

 pared and mounted, but have not the notes of the examination with 

 me. 



THE UNIVERSITY EXPERIMENTAL FARM. 



Mr. Busse. I understood that we were to have some remarks from 

 Prof. Porter about what he is doing on the Experimental Farm. 



Prof. Porter. Gentlemen; this Society is one of the associations of 

 the State, which is entitled at every annual and semi-annual meeting 

 to a report of what is .being done at the University Experimental 

 Farm. 



You are well aware that five years ago when I took charge of the 

 Department of Agriculture at the State University, I found it in 



