122 [Assembly, 



Springfield examples, I had heard of an aphis attack on tomato 

 plants in Albany, which was curling and otherwise injuring the 

 foliage, but the specimens which were promised me were not 

 brought. It is quite probable that the present year, in its favor- 

 able condition for an unusual multiplication of aphides, has multi- 

 plied the tomato species, and caused it to overflow on the potato^ 

 where it has found conditions still more propitious to its increase. 



That the two are the same finds some support in the observa- 

 tions of Mr. A. W. Cheever, agricultural editor of the New 

 England Farmer, who has written me, under date of July twenty- 

 ninth, that both were occurring with him. Upon potatoes they 

 had been very abundant tor the preceding two weeks, but his 

 chickens, which were the first to discover their presence, had been 

 efficient in reducing their numbers. Not r so many occurred on the 

 tomato plants ; these were much lighter-colored than the others, 

 but would feed readily on the potato leaves if transferred to them, 

 as would also those of the potato when placed on the tomato. 



M. Lichstenstein, in " La Flore des Aphidiens " of the world, 

 published in 1884, records, in addition to Dr. Thomas' species 

 above mentioned, but four other species known to feed on Solanum, 

 viz. : Aphis <nerii Kalt., A. silybi Pass., A. solannina Pass., and 

 Siphonophora solani Kalt. To these may be added Siphonophora 

 solanifolii Ashmead, described in the Canadian Entomologist 

 (xiv, 1882, pp. 92, 93), from examples found in Florida (?) feeding 

 on Solanum, j as minoides, or "pepper vine" — according to Gray, 

 a woody-stemmed house-plant from Brazil. 



In localities where the potato aphis abounds, I would recom- 

 mend for its destruction, as preferable to the tobacco water, the 

 use of the hop-wash employed in England for the hop-aphis, viz. : 

 100 gallons of water \soft water it possible), four to five pounds of 

 soft-soap, and six to eight pounds of quassia, well boiled to extract 

 the strength. In applying the liquid the plants should be turned 

 downward, so that the under side of the leaves can be reached 

 where the insects congregate. 



It is not probable that this aphis will continue, in future years, 

 to be a serious potato pest, but it will be but a proper precaution if 

 all the dead stalks and leaves, together with such other garden 

 refuse as might furnish winter harborage for the eggs or the 

 mature insect, be gathered and burned. 



