f 



A(;UI('ULTl'RAI, AITROPIUATION HIIJ^ H>24. 285 



(listrihutod uIouk with llio corn l<» |H)intH inoro or l»*fw ri'inotr fn»m ihi* itifiwlcl an-a. 

 Active BCOiititiK work to dotiTininf tin* limilw of iiif<'?<lution of thi« iM-nt liaA l>oen rarriinl 

 on. covorinB;.Hoin«» 4<X) H<nuin> inilfM. with thn n'»»tili that thf-n- wax foniul to bo inf«f<t«»«| 

 api»roximal<'ly 2\'.i 8<|Uiin' niil<'f< in \i«w .Ii'pm'V and .')7 M'|uar«' mil*-?* in I'onnMvlvaniu 



AloriK' with the (|uariintin<> work l>ioloi;l«;il Mtiidi** of thf in-o'vt ha\ <• hi-i-ri |' ■ >i 



with tnufh Hiicct'HH. Invosiiniitioii."* of iii.««'cticidi>?< and nifthixlM i>i rmiirol )i ■ n 



Kiv(>n a proniinont phuv, itictudini; thf tr<' ilnwiit of tlio >;riil>H in the i*oil. u»m- oi ]f\ ■!> 

 and r('i>i'lhintsHpr.iy«'<| on foliiii;<>. th»> <iiwiruriion of th»> t'rulw hy airriiidtnral n)«>thii<lH. 

 otr. Muili iitlcntion has IxM'n K'^'f'i ♦" '''•' inHptn-tion of nnrwry Ht<K-k in th«' infmted 

 t(>rritorv, and proviriion made for moWnK thin wht>n ixxwiblo undor thn qitarantinn 

 roixuhitioiiH 



A liiru'f ninnlxT of panirtitos of llic .lapuni'sr Ix-t'th' huvo lici-n ini|K»rt<-<| from Japan. 

 Thi\><e aro boini; propa;;at«'<| and cxttMLsivc lilMTationn of the i»anu<ito« will lu- rna<lo 

 in the Hpring. \n investigation of parasites in other jmrts of tne world than Jafian in 

 pianntnl. in<-liidini; an many regions as [Kxwildi' whoro tin- .Fajmnfflo JK'etlo or itn nr-ar 

 rolativ»>H arc known to occur. 



Furopfiiii corn futrer. — -In .Xii^Mmt. 1!I21. the corn l>orcr wa*» di.-M-ovcrod to havo bo- 

 como di8tril)Ut«Hl. probably by fli^rht from Ontario, alon^' tho cut ire Hoiithcrn shore 

 of Lake Krie in PonnHylvania! Ohio, and Mif-hi^fan. In order to «tudy the infle<-t in 

 it.s new environment, a tield lal>oratory waw established at Sandusky. Ohio. Head- 

 cpiarters for the scouting: work and the inspei-tion and certilication of crojifl were alno 

 eatalili.sheii at ('lev«>lan(i and Toledo. Durini: the summer of 1!''J2 very little chaii>re 

 hai« occurriMl in the distribution of the insect in fhe regions mentionecl. alfhouirh a 

 elierht spread into contiffuous tertiitory ha« been ol>served. No rommercial damage 

 has yet become a])parent there, but it is fearetl that serious damape to the corn crop 

 will result within a few years if the insect is not kept in check by timely action on 

 the part of agricultural workers. In the western New York area, near HutTalo. an 

 extensive eastward sprea<l occurre<l during the fliirht season of the moths this year. 

 The edpe of this infestcKl area now coincides with the eastern border of Wyoming 

 t'ounty. A slight increase in the amount of injury to corn was noted, but the losaen 

 incurred are not yet of a very serious character. In eastern New York little change 

 has been noted. The spread has been slight and the intensification of injury almost 

 imperceptiitle. 



In Mas.sachu.seltts, where the corn borer has two broods per annum, a very con- 

 siderable increast' in injury to garden crops in general, an<l especially to celery, beets, 

 and beans, has occurred. Serious injury has also been observed on certain flowering 

 plants grown for market purposes, such as gladioli, dahlias, a.-^ters, and chry,«an- 

 themums. A very marked and exten.sivc dispersion by flight has occurred in New 

 llamixshire. Khode Island, and Maine during the late .summer a.s a result of the dense 

 character of the infestation in the areas existing immediately surrounding Boston. 



The research work on the corn borer has been vigorously pressed to detcnuine 

 practicable means of control, and a farmers' bulletin giving the results of these investi- 

 gations is ill press. This will contain recoinineiulalions lor the control of the pest, 

 chiefly by means of changes in agronomic practice and the consumption of the infested 

 crops in a manner to destroy the insects contained in them. Investigations l(X)king 

 toward the discovery of an elHcient insecticide are being conducted, but as yet do 

 not promise success. The fumigation of dried crops for possible movement from the 

 infested areas has received much attention. 



The work of introducing the natural enemies of the corn l)orer from Kurope has 

 progres-'^ed rapidly, and more than 1, ()()(), t)(K) individuals of a single promising species 

 of parasitic wasp have been liberated in Massachusetts during the past summer. At 

 present another distinct species is being propagated with similar treatment in view. 

 Several additional in.sect parasites have been discoveriKi, which it is believed may 

 function beneliciary when introduced into Ameri<a. 



Cotton boll wenil. — Excellent pro^re.ss hius been made in the control of the Im)II 

 weevil by the calcium arsenate dust. \'ery many planters have used this procees 

 with prolital)le results during the year, and it has l)een constantly simpliliiHi and cheap- 

 ened and adapte<I to different regions. Hxperiments have l)een made in the use of 

 the airplane which show that in this way the amount of iv)ison i-an be cut in half and 

 which indicate the possible use of this instrument for dusting on large plantations or 

 in regions of almost continuous cotton culture and suggest that it may come into play 

 in community service. 



The general feeling throughout the regions where the boll weevil has been present 

 for several vears is one of encouragement. an<l it has been shown in many cases that 

 by the application of cultural methods recommended by the department even the 

 small planter on comparatively poor soil may raise cotton under boll weevil conditions 

 at a profit. 



