146 



This bulletin is published as a report of an investigation of 

 this class of insects which has extended over a period of several 

 years. Special effort has been made to acquire information re- 

 garding the egg-laying habits of the different species, their life 

 histories, seasonal abundance, natural enemies, methods of reduc- 

 ing or preventing loss and to collecting a large number of speci- 

 mens for systematic study. The work has been carried on in con- 

 nections with other entomological investigations and the writer 

 is aware that many phases of the study have been passed over too 

 hurriedly to obtain accurate and final conclusions. It is is es- 

 pecially desirable that in the future a more careful study be 

 made of the larvae and pupae of the species considered. 



THE NUT INDUSTRY IN WEST VIRGINIA. 



The most important feature of the nut industry in West 

 Virginia is the production of native chestnuts. There are sev- 

 eral counties that, during favorable seasons, market from 40 to 

 75 tons each of these nuts. A portion of this crop is gathered 

 from forest trees but most of it probably comes from chestnut 

 groves consisting of second-growth trees that have been allowed 

 to stand in old fields. The nuts bring, in the local markets, an 

 average of about four cents a pound, or $80 a ton, and are a 

 source of considerable income in many localities. 



The improved varieties of European and Japanese chest- 

 nuts are beginning to be grown in several places in the State 

 and give promise of great success providing they can be kept 

 sufficiently free from insects. 



Shellbark hickory trees flourish in many sections and almost 

 every neighborhood has its one or more famous, old hickory trees 

 that are noted locally for the nuts which they bear. Although 

 no great quantity of hickorynuts are marketed, the nuts are, 

 nevertheless, gathered very carefully, often being regaded as too 

 good to sell, and are kept for home and local use. Walnuts, but- 

 ternuts and hazelnuts are also furnished to the market in a lim- 

 ited way and are gathered in larger quantities for home use. 



