CONTROL OF ARGENTINE ANT IN CALIFORNIA. 



33 



of ants in well-cultivated orchards was observed in an orchard 

 during the spring of 1920. One row of trees near the center of the 

 orchard was missed at the time of sirup distribution, and the first 

 inspection showed the ants almost totally eradicated throughout the 

 orchard with the exception of this one row, which continued to be 

 heavily infested. During experimental work groups of trees in one 

 side of an orchard have had the ants controlled through sirup distri- 

 bution although the rows bordering these trees were little influenced. 

 Orcliards in which only part of the trees are attended by ants need 

 sirup containers only on the infested trees. In California the plant- 

 ings are for the most part from 70 to 100 trees to the acre. 



COMPARATIVE COST OF TINS AND PARAFFINED BAGS. 



The cost of ant sirup fluctuated greatly during the period of ex- 

 perimental work, 1917 to 1920, largely because of the changing price 

 of sugar and honey. The cost of materials for each gallon of sirup 

 in 1917 was SO. 61 compared to .$1.54 in 1920. The cost of the 2-ounce 

 flat spice tins increased about 20 per cent, while paper bags increased 

 over 35 per cent in price. The labor cost also materially increased. 

 The following comparison is based on 1920 prices: 



Table 2. — Shouing the comparative cost of poisoning ants when ixsing tins and ivhen 

 using paraffined bags, season of 1920. 



Two-ounce flat spice tins. 



One-fourth-pound paraflQned bags. 



Ant sirup for 100 cans i Sl..*^ 



Ant sirup for 100 bags ' $1. S3 



100 -i-pound l)ags.. . .15 



100 2-ounce spice tins 1. 7.5 



1 pound paraffin 2.') 



100 2d. finisliing nails.. 01,5 



LABOR. 2 



Panelling and dipping 100 



cans 1 i hours. 



Filling and capping 100 cans.. 4 hour. 

 Distributing 1 hour. 



At $0.39 3 hours. 1.17 



1 pound paraffin .25 



100 6-ouncc tacks... .025 



LABOR .2 



Punching and dipping 100 



Filling and closing 100 bags . J hour. 

 Distributing i hour. 



At $0.39. 2; hours. 1.07 





Total 5. 015 



Total cost per can 05 



. Total 3.325 



Total cost per bag 03 J 





' Based on 84 cans to the gallon at $1.54 per gallon. 

 > This does not include time spent iu prepanug sirup. 



INFLUENCE OF CONTAINERS ON FEEDING. 



Although both paraffined paper sacks and tin cans have been used 

 by the writers for approximately three years, no dift'erence in feeding 

 or rapidity of control attributable to the type of container was 

 observed. It has been stated by some experienced in ant control 

 that greater feeding and more rapid control are eflected by the use 

 of paraffined paper bags. An experiment to determine this point 

 was started in 1920 and the results are presented herewith: Sirup 



