Feb., 1926] PROGRESS OF AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS 13 



number of individuals have now been carried through a complete life 

 history. Hatching of overwintering eggs began May 18 and continued 

 until ^lay 29. The preference of larvae as to food plants was noted. 

 In their early stages they appear to prefer the grasses. This year larvae 

 were observed to pass through eight and nine instars. In the work of 

 last year it was noted that the number of larval instars was apparently 

 at least seven. Pupation began August 4 and continued to August 27. 

 The first adult emerged September 1. Emergence continued through 

 September. 



It was found that some females are able to deposit eggs one day after 

 emergence. 



Up to the present time the species has been found in twenty-two 

 different host plants vmder field conditions in New Hampshire. 



A study of the parasites of the larva has disclosed a species of Diptera, 

 which appears to be rather common; a species of Hymenoptera, of which 

 only one specimen has been reared; and a species of thread worm, of 

 which two specimens have been reared. 



Black Flies (Hatch Fund) 



The extensive undertaking of identifying all of the larval collections 

 is nearly completed by the Entomology Department. When this has 

 been finished it will be possible to begin correlating the records showing 

 relative larval abundance, state of stream flow, relative abundance of 

 pupae and adults, and the remaining extensive information contained in 

 the records that have been accumulated under this project. It is hoped 

 that the ecological study thus made possible will be interesting as well as 

 extensive. At least one species of black flies new to science has been 

 found in the collections. 



White Pine Weevil {Purnell Fund) 



Plans for a study of this insect under New Hampshire conditions have 

 been drawn up and approved. Only preliminary work has been ac- 

 complished thus far. 



FIELD CROPS 



Ensilage Variety Tests {Hatch Fund) 



Nine varieties of ensilage corn were grown on one-third acre plots this 

 year under the direction of F. W. Taylor. The soil was a stony loam and 

 was manured at the rate of twenty loads per acre. No fertilizer was 

 used. The corn was planted with a two-row planter May 19. The 

 plots were cut September 28 and 29, having been frosted on the 23rd. 

 The field data on the several varieties are given in Table II. 



Samples of the silage of each of these varieties will be analyzed this 

 winter to determine their content of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. 



In an adjoining ten-acre field Giant Russian sunflowers were mixed 

 with Teaming corn in the proportion of one bushel of sunflowers to eight 

 bushels of corn. The yield on this field averaged 19| tons per acre, 

 parts of the field going as high as 24 tons. The sunflowers increase the 

 tonnage materially but are more costly to harvest. The heavy heads 

 break the stalks over, and the work of loading and putting them through 

 the cutter is increased. We have found no disadvantages in feeding the 



