256 Cornell Extension Bulletin 10 



they are abundant, the leaves become pale in color and stunted. They 

 effect their injury by sucking the juices from the leaves. Indoors they 

 are more resistant to fumigation than are aphids or thrips. As they 

 are very sensitive to moist conditions, the main method of control is 

 by a thorough syringing with water. Sanitary methods of keeping down 

 all weeds harboring them, and burning infested parts of the plants, are 

 of prime importance. 



A number of cases of injury by a black blister beetle have been reported. 

 This is no doubt a beetle of the genus Epicauta, or possibly Meloe. 



Van Fleet and others report the occurrence of a Diabrotica beetle. 

 These are yellowish green, much like the cucumber beetles. On the trial 

 grounds at Cornell they caused some injury by eating the unopened buds. 

 If very plentiful they may be shaken on to sticky paper, as recommended 

 by the California State Commission of Horticulture. 



In Success with Flowers (Anonymous reference, 1901), a subscriber who 

 inquires as to effective treatment for a root aphis, or root louse, which it 

 is difficult to reach with insecticides, is answered as follows: 



The piece of ground to be planted with gladiolus may be cleared of the insects by the 

 use of coarsely ground tol^acco that can be purchased at about ten cents a pound. 

 A heavy dressing of the tobacco can be spread on the ground and forked in immediately 

 before planting, or it may be dug in between the plants later in the season. . . Potash 

 salt in the form of kainit has been found to be injurious or destructive to the insects; 

 nitrate of soda produces similar efifects. If, therefore, these substances should be 

 used as fertilizers, . . . they would at the same time destroy the pests, or at 

 least lessen their number to the extent of rendering them harmless. 



Cutworms have been especially abundant of late. They are the noc- 

 turnal larvae of owlet moths, and according to Powell (191 5) " start their 

 depredations early in May, or even in late April, and continue until about 

 the middle of June." The best remedy seems to be a poisoned bait made 

 in one of various ways. For small garden spots a little paris green is 

 mixed with some bran, the mixture then being made into a thick mush 

 by the addition of sufficient molasses and water. This is sprinkled 

 along the rows of gladioH. Alunroe (19 15) states that when large 

 fields need to be treated, it is best to spread the bran, perhaps about a 

 hundred pounds, on a barn floor, and sprinkle it with sweetened molasses 

 water (enough to make it cnimbly) ; over this is then scattered a pound 

 of paris green, and the whole is mixed together thoroughly. 



GLADIOLUS DISEASES 8 



Dr. L. M. Massey, of the Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell 

 University, contributes the following brief resume of the gladiolus diseases; 



« The Department of Plant Pathology at Cornell University is investigating the diseases of the 

 gladiolus, and all samples of diseased plants or corms, as well as all correspondence concerning treatment 

 for the prevention of disease, should be addressed to that department. 



