1912.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 73 



sources tliroii^li wliicli entomological iiiforniation lias been dis- 

 tributed in this State. From this time on, however, it will be 

 more difficult than formerly to determine from the correspond- 

 ence itself the nature of the insect concerned, and it is probable 

 that visits to places where damage is being caused will be much 

 more frequently necessary in order to give intelligent advice 

 as to the proper methods of control. 



The importance of a collection of insects and of their work 

 would seem to be almost self-evident. Any entomologist taking 

 up duties either State or station in character, who finds no col- 

 lection or only a small one where he goes, labors under an im- 

 mense handicap, and within a year or two a number of letters 

 expressing this in most emphatic terms have been received by 

 the writer from friends laboring under such conditions. This 

 station is fortunately situated in this regard, having a good 

 collection, containing many entire life histories, and well cared 

 for. It is far from complete, however, and is deficient in many 

 difierent stages, even of common forms. To be what it should 

 be, it is important not only to maintain it in its present condi- 

 tion, but to add to it as rapidly as possible specimens of all the 

 injurious insects which can possibly be obtained, in their dif- 

 ferent stages, together with samples showing the nature of 

 the injuries they cause. As much work of this kind as possible 

 has been carried on during the past year. 



Under the Hatch act experimental studies of various kinds 

 have been continued. The destruction of seed corn by wire- 

 worms has been studied as in previous years, in co-operation 

 with Mr. Whitcomb. As stated in the last report, tests of tar 

 and Paris green proved successful, but when tried by many dif- 

 ferent persons in various parts of the country were not always 

 satisfactory. The trouble in most cases seems to have been that 

 so much tar was applied as to give the corn a waterproof cov- 

 ering, which prevented germination. This was not the fault of 

 the method, but was due to its improper application. A real 

 defect of the method was that it required two treatments, first 

 with the tar and second with the Paris green and dust. To 

 avoid this, tests were made last spring with arsenate of lead 

 diluted to the thickness of paint. The results were not wholly 

 satisfactory, partly because wire-worms were not everywhere 



