34a EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



plant lice. Here its value would, of course, be compared with 

 nicotine sulfate 40 per cent, which is now probably the stand- 

 ard material for this purpose. In recent years there have been 

 times when it was impossible to obtain the nicotine sulfate, 

 and a substitute easier to prepare than kerosene emulsion, 

 available at such times, and as effective as possible, should be 

 known, if such a material exists. 



The Sulfoleum mixed readily with water, and did not separate 

 from it on standing, even for some time. As an insecticide for 

 plant lice it was quite effective, though not quite as much so 

 as the nicotine sulfate. It did injure tender foliage, however; 

 not excessively, but enough to make this a serious objection 

 to its use. 



Applied as a "cluster bud" spray to apple trees it seemed 

 to be of some value for the control of the red bugs, and without 

 injury in this case to the foliage. 



If some change in the composition of this substance can be 

 made by which it will be less injurious to tender foliage, with- 

 out any reduction of its insecticidal value, it should become a 

 useful material when nicotine sulfate cannot be obtained; but 

 from the tests made last season it can hardly be recommended 

 with its present composition. It is understood that the m.anu- 

 facturers are now working on it to find, if possible, a way in 

 which it can be made safer for use while maintaining its in- 

 secticidal value. 



Green Clover Worm {Phdhypena scabra Fab.). — This insect 

 unexpectedly became extremely abundant last summer, and 

 caused serious injury to beans, stripping the leaves and eating 

 into the pods, almost everywhere in the State. Its work be- 

 gan to be noticeable in eastern Massachusetts a little after the 

 middle of July, and a week or so later it was evident farther 

 west. The insect is always present in small numbers, and 

 usually feeds on clover, but when it turns its attention, as is 

 sometimes the case, to other legumes it becomes a pest of great 

 importance. 



When the outbreak began, an investigation was made, and 

 it was found that most of the recommendations for control 

 given in the literature on this insect were merely suggestions 

 as to measures which might possibly be of value, but which in 



