18 



BULLETIlSr 807, U. S. DEPAETMENT OF AGRICULTUKE. 



By referring to Table X, it will be seen that the germination of 

 old seed is only slightly less than that of new seed. 



Mr. Eonald McKee, in his bulletin on horse beans (8) previously 

 mentioned, states : " Horse-bean seed retains its vitality for a num- 

 ber of years. * * * Germination tests of seed 4 years old of a 

 number of varieties grown at Chico, Calif., showed little or no 

 deterioration." 



It can not be emphasized too strongly that any control measures 

 to prevent weevil infestation should be undertaken by the entire 

 community and not by a few growers. If all growers in the horse- 

 bean districts would plant either absolutely uninfested beans, seed 

 which had been given a thorough treatment with carbon disulphid, or 

 seed which had been held over until the second year, the resulting 

 <3rop would be of a very much higher quality as regards freedom 

 irom weevil infestation. 



LATE PLANTING. 



It has been observed for some time by horse-bean growers and 

 buyers that the crops from seed planted early in the season were 

 likely to be infested more badly than those from seed planted later. 

 In administering the Food and Drugs Act, inspectors of the Federal 

 Bureau of Chemistry collected samples of horse beans from all parts 

 of the State, and ascifertained for each sample the time of planting 

 and the percentage of infestation. From the data furnished by 

 them, and from samples taken and tested by the writer, the follow- 

 ing tables were compiled. In Table XIV the growers did not know 

 the exact date of planting, but remembered only whether they were 

 planted early or late. 



Table XIV. — Comparing the degree of weevil infestation in crops planted 

 early and late. Data front, all horse bean districts in California. 





Planted early. i 



Planted "later." 



Planted late. 



Year. 



Number 

 of sacks. 



Percent- 

 age of in- 

 festation. 



Number 

 of sacks. 



Percent- 

 age of in- 

 festation. 



Number 

 of sacks. 



Percent- 

 age of in- 

 festation. 



1910 . 



17, 100 

 1,500 



32.5 

 34.3 







5,380 

 1,960 



6.3 



1917 



1,990 



18.77 



6.5 







1 Early means previous to January 1; late, subsequent to March 1. 



Whenever possible, the month of planting the seed was ascertained 

 in connection with the degree of infestation, and these data are given 

 in Table XV. 



