Mai 15, 1919. 



The Florists^ Review 



19 



adults were reared in early May from 

 larvsB which pupated in November. Dur- 

 ing the warm summer months the gen- 

 erations may mature every two weeks 

 Sd overlapping of broods probably 

 kes place. Larvae were especially in- 

 jurious at Colgate, Md., during two 

 {)eriod8 of the year, namely, from the 

 atter part of May to early July and 

 from early September to November 1. 

 On the approach of cold weather the 

 stages are slightly prolonged and about 

 the latter part of November the larv» 

 enter the ground and construct over- 

 wintering cocoons. No injury has been 

 reported during winter. 



Experiments in Oontrol. 



Boses, especially the hybrid teas, are 

 apparently the only plants attacked by 

 this insect. ~^It has been recorded as in- 

 festing the Eadiance, Hadley, Russell, 

 Eallarney, Ophelia, Hoosier Beauty, 

 Shawyer, Milady, American Beauty, 

 Uncle John, Joe Hill, Kate Moulton, 

 Bridesmaid, Liberty, Richmond, Mrs. 

 John Laing, Meteor, Mme. Chate'nay, 

 Ivory, Golden Gate, Wootton, La Trance, 

 and a sport of the latter, the Duchess 

 of Albany. 



A series of experiments were con- 

 ducted to determine the value of mo- 

 lasses in catching the larvae. The sprays 

 were various combinations of molasses, 

 nicotine extract, lead arsenate, fish-oil 

 soap, Bordeaux mixture and water. All 

 of the experiments were conducted in a 

 commercial greenhouse and each test 

 represents a 50-foot bed of roses. For 

 the most part the killing results of all 

 the experiments were satisfactory. Un- 

 fortunately, however, the molasses 

 served as a medium for the development 

 of sooty mold and, moreover, where lead 

 arsenate was used an objectionable 

 white deposit developed. The presence 

 of either on cut flowers necessarily 

 would reduce their value and in some 

 instances would eliminate them from 

 the market. 



Use of Tobacco. 



To determine the value of tobacco 

 dust in preventing the full-grown larvae, 

 or grubs, from entering the soil, the fol- 

 lowing cage experiments were con- 

 ducted: (1) Soil around caged plants 

 was covered with dry tobacco dust; (2) 

 same as former except that the dust was 

 wet. Full-grown larvae which were 

 placed in the cage containing dry dust 

 were active for twenty-four hours, but 

 did not go below the surface, whereas 

 the larvae similarly placed in cage 2 

 were exceedingly active upon coming in 

 contact with the wet dust, acting as if 

 they were burned, and after from five 

 to eight hours they were all dead. All 

 larvae used in the check immediately 

 entered the soil. 



The Colgate Test. 



Having determined a satisfactory 

 method of preventing the entrance of 

 the full-grown larvae into the soil, all of 

 the rose beds in the infested houses at 

 Colgate, Md., were covered, October 12, 

 1916, with tobacco dust averaging from 

 one-fourth to one-half inch deep. To 

 prevent the larvae from entering the dirt 

 walks of the houses, all walks were 

 sprayed with five per cent kerosene 

 emulsion. Simultaneously, nightly fumi- 

 gation with tobacco stems was inaugu- 

 rated and continued until October 30, in- 

 clusive, and from that date until No- 

 vember 8 the houses were fumigated 

 every other night. The object of this 



I WHO'S WHO Ml- AND WHY 



v^ 



E. B. MORGAN. 



THIRTEEN years ago E. B. Morgan left his home on a farm near Loda, 111., and 

 took charge of the retail end of a florists ' business in Paxton, 111. That was the 

 beginning. The business grew and prospered, as Mr. Morgan modestly remarks, * * be- 

 yond expectation." He has bought out his two original partners, W. J. West and 

 C. J. Addems, and has taken in his son, H. H. Morgan. Their 30,000 feet of glass are 

 the pride of Paxton. A wholesale as well as retail business is done and the plan is to 

 increase it at once. That Mr. Morgan is well-known and highly esteemed throughout 

 his community is attested by the various oflSces of honor and trust to which he has been 

 elected by his fellow-citizens. 



fumigation was to kill all adults before 

 eggs were deposited. 



Although this control work was not 

 undertaken until October 12, its effect- 

 iveness was soon apparent, and by the 

 latter part of October it was difficult to 

 locate an infested bud. Not only was 

 the midge under control, but the owner 

 was enabled to bring on his fall crop 

 earlier than was the case in 1915. May 

 7, 1917, these houses were carefully ex- 

 amined, and only six larvae were located, 

 two in the buds of Hadley and four in 

 the buds of Radiance. All plants at this 

 time were in excellent condition and 

 gave promise of producing a full crop 

 of flowers. These houses were again 

 carefully examined June 19, and no in- 

 jury was to be found on any of the 

 plants which had been infested so se- 

 verely during the fall of 1916. More- 

 over, the owner reported that up to June 

 19 more than twice as many blooms had 



been cut as during the entire previous 

 year. 



The rapid elimination of this pest was 

 due no doubt to two causes, (1) nightly 

 fumigation, which killed off the adults 

 before egg-laying took place, and (2) 

 the application of tobacco dust, which 

 prevented the larvae from entering the 

 soil. Moreover, the tobacco dust served 

 a dual purpose, since it prevented the 

 larvae from entering hibernating q^uar- 

 ters and at the same time fertilized the 

 soil. 



When First Detected. 



In the case of light infestations, the 

 midge can be controlled by systematic 

 nightly fumigations with tobacco fumes, 

 which should be continued until all 

 adults disappear; or by a careful appli- 

 cation, at the proper season, of tobacco 

 dust. Inasmuch as the broods probably 

 overlap during the summer, there is a 



