52 PROTECTtON OF PLANTS — 1922-23 



In this case the activities of the Lady Bird beetles may be considered 

 purely local and during the early part of the blooming period of carrots probably 

 the solitary bees rank highest in importance, both from the standpoint of their 

 habits and their strength of flight. Bumble bees while their percentage of 

 prevalence was low, were very industrious throughout most of the season and, 

 with the solitary bees, doubtless are the factors of most importance in the carrot 

 seed area. I am informed from the writings of Prof. Boving and also from our 

 general information on the subject that the different varieties of carrot cross 

 readily among themselves and with the wild carrot, Daucus caroia, the cross 

 I believe resulting in a deterioration not only in color and shape but also in 

 quality. The influence of the wild carrot is worthy of much consideration 

 and attention must be given to the distribution of these wild plants in a carrot 

 seed producing area. Their blossoming period coincides with that of the 

 cultivated plants and extends over a greater part of the summer. 



Sugar Beets. 



With sugar beets we find that the Lady Bird beetles are again an important 

 local factor, but solitary and social bees are probably the most important. 

 As has already been pointed out the sugar beet is allied to the various mangel 

 varieties and chard, and as the wind factor again enters the question, the same 

 remarks as we made for mangels apply to sugar beets. The analysis over 

 two months is as follows: 



Coccinelhds 32% 



Syrphids 21% 



Honey bees 20% 



Solitary bees 14% 



Hemiptera 13% 



I have no records dealing with the insect visitors to swedes but, should 

 this crop be grown for seed, we must not forget that swede varieties will not 

 only intercross among themselves but they will mingle with turnips, rape and 

 Brassica campestris. Prof. Boving has recorded an instance in Richmond 

 County, P. Q., in 1915, where an examination of a field of swedes showed 

 that the seed must have been very impure as the result of an examination 

 that he made at that time. Fully 10% of the swedes showed excessively 

 elongated necks, and at least 50% of the roots bore evidence of crossing in 

 the abundance of prongs and crossing-lumps. In this instance the cross had 

 been affected between swedes and B. campestris (Bird rape). 



