74 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



ceding, being still too scarce to give rcsnlts which could he con- 

 sidered entirely trustworthy. 



Observation of the dates of app(\irance of the young of our 

 common scales have been continued, adding the records of an- 

 other year to those already in hand. This work will also need 

 to be continued for a number of years in order to provide data 

 of sufficient value for general use. 



The experiments for the control of the onion thrips have 

 I^roceeded far enough to show that spraying the onions after this 

 insect has appeared on them is, at best, only a partial remedy. 

 One of the results of the work of this pest is to curl the leaves of 

 the onion, and the insects at once gather on the inner side of the 

 curled surface, so that many of them cannot bo reached by the 

 spray, though those which are reached in this way are destroyed. 

 A study of the life history of these insects shows that they pass 

 the winter at the top of the ground in protected places, such 

 as are furnished by dead grass around the onion fields, in rub- 

 bish heaps and similar places ; and a few attempts to destroy 

 them by burning over the grass and rubbish around the fields 

 have been followed by a reduction in the abundance of the insect 

 the next spring. This method of control has not as yet been 

 tested long enough to prove that the result was actually due to 

 the treatment rather than to merely natural causes, but, in any 

 case, it seems to be the most promising way we have yet found 

 to check this insect, and it should be repeated until its value has 

 been fully determined. 



Perhaps the most important entomological event of the year 

 at the station was the discovery of an egg parasite of the connnon 

 asparagus beetle, which was found actively at work about the 

 first of June. Observations on this insect, its habits and life 

 history, have been published as Circular No. 23 of the station, 

 and also in the " Joiirnal of Economic Entomology." 



The control of wire worms, attacking seed corn in the ground 

 soon after it has been ])lanted, is important, as these pests, 

 when abundant, often necessitate the re])laiiting of many acres. 

 Experiments to prevent the attacks of this insect liave hcou 

 carried on by Mr. Ival])li 11. Whitcond) of Andierst, and his 

 ingenuity has discovered tliat when the corn, wIumi y)lanted, has 

 been covered with tar as a repellant for crows, as is (piitc gener- 



