50 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



the effects of the beetle, and here, likewise, we were unable to 

 learn of any spraying. YVaterford elms, as a result of vigorous 

 agitation, were sprayed for the first time this year and those treated 

 show a marked benefit as a consequence. The elms of Stillwater 

 were very severely damaged in 1 9 1 1 , and the past season injury was 

 confined mostly to the outskirts of the village and to trees on 

 private property, many having been sprayed as a result of an earlier 

 agitation. The systematic spraying of elms has been continued at 

 Saratoga and Glens Falls and. Ave have been given to understand, 

 has been started in Fort Edward. The village of Ticonderoga 

 sprayed its trees for the first time and those responsible for the 

 work are com~inced that it has been a material benefit. 



Experiments with elm leaf beetle. It was thought that pos- 

 sibly a sweetening added to the poison might materially enhance 

 its effectiveness, as has been reported for the related parent of the 

 grapevine root worm. Fidia viticida Walsh. Small American 

 elm leaves were sprayed May 15th with arsenate of lead {i2y 2 per 

 cent arsenic oxid ) used at the rate of 4 pounds to 50 gallons of 

 water, and other leaves were treated with the same poison to which 

 was added a cheap grade of molasses used at the rate 'of 6 pints 

 to 50 gallons of water. Another branch was sprayed with clear 

 water, all being kept until the moisture had evaporated. The 

 application was to the under as well as to the upper surface of 

 the leaves, and in the case of the poisoned foliage at least, was 

 rather abundant, though the amount present was not in excess of 

 that frequently observed upon trees sprayed under field conditions. 

 The application was made with a hand atomizer. Beetles which had 

 been kept in a pasteboard box for the preceding five days were 

 placed in jars with the above treated leaves at 2.45 p. m. These 

 insects must have been moderately hungry and thirsty, though 

 these conditions would hardly have been more severe than those 

 obtaining in many houses where the insects winter. Four beetles 

 were in each jar and for a time appeared well satisfied to walk 

 about on the damp sand in the bottom of the jar, this being par- 

 ticularly so in the one containing leaves sprayed with sweetened 

 poison. The sand was possibly a little more moist in the jar con- 

 taining foliage sprayed with the unsweetened arsenate of lead and 

 there seemed to be a little more poison on these leaves than on the 

 others. 



Arsenate of lead plain. One beetle dropped from the leaves at 

 3.45 and appeared sick, since it lay upon its back with spasmodic 



