60 Fit/fi.in M liar urn jYofrsi. [ Yq] TJl^ 



on the subject, is to tlie one purpose— since they have used the potash salts the 

 corn has been practically exempt from injury by cnl-worms or wire-worms. That 

 kainit will kill even true wire-worms (Elater larva?) I have proved experimentally. 

 It does not act very promptly, but it does kill eventually, as the following proves : — 



"A large number of wire-worms were divided iuto two lots, nearly equal in number 

 and similar as to size, and each lot was put into a large jar with about six inches of 

 soil. A potato, cut into quarters, was put into each jar, just beneath the surface and 

 close to the edge, to facilitate observation. Into one jar was put two ounces of clean 

 water ; into the other an equal amount, in which kainit at the rate of one ounce to one 

 pint had been dissolved. No other treatment was given. For a week there seemed 

 no difference, and most of the larvse were buried in the potatoes. Then the younger 

 larvae in the kainit jar began to die, and in two weeks scarcely a living larva was 

 to be found. In the other jar the larvse lived on for more than a month without either 

 food or attention, and they were then thrown into alcohol as specimens. Therefore 

 I advise the application of kainit as a top-drensing, just as soou as the ground is 

 ready to receive it, and as long as possible before planting." 



The followinfj- is added as a foot-note : — 



" Bulletin No. 33 of the Cornell station has come into my hands since this bulletin 

 was sent to the printer. In it Professor Comstock reports poor success in laboratory 

 experiments with kainit as against wire-worms. Space is lucking here to go into 

 details ; but I will do so in the Annual Report. That laboratory experiments do not 

 always indicate what will happen in the field, the following will show : — 



"On the Voorhees farm, in Somerset county, a fourteen acre field was divided 

 into two sections, to test kainit and muriate of potash as fertilizers, and a stiip of 

 seven rows was left untreated between. The land was known to be badh' infested 

 by wire-worms and cut-worms or grub-worms, more specially one low meadow. In 

 the talf treated with kainit, the corn all came up well, and was not molested by 

 insects at all ; on the muriate half the injury was much lessened, and in the untreated 

 rows, running the full length of the field, almost the whole was destroyed by the 

 insects. The experiment was not made to test insecticide effect ; but the results were 

 PC apparent that Mr. Voorhees spoke of them at once, and reports that since using 

 kainit he has no further trouble with either wire-worms or cut-worms. This has also 

 been the experience of his neighbours, and of all who have been questioned by me. 

 I therefore again repeat my advice,— use kainit wherever practicable." 



An interesting report on '' Methods of prevenlinji^ and checking- the 

 Prevention of insect ravages attacks of insects and fungi " (John Murray, 

 '" '^"^^^"*^- 1B9I), by Mr. Charles Whitehead, has recent- 



ly been published in England. 



The methods recommended are generally such as are already well 

 known in the United States, where so much has been done to develope 

 this branch of agricultural knowledge, but Mr. Whitehead's practical 

 little pamphet will be useful for reference, not only in England, but also 

 in India, where people are only beginning to appreciate the importance 

 of utilizing the latest discoveries in the methods of combating the 

 various pests that attack crops. 



For checking jvire worms and Tiptdnlce larvfe, wiiich are often very 



