54 
from the foliage, it did not prove of practical utility. With the per- 
fection of methods of preparing arsenate of lead Professor Fernald 
urged the growers to make a thorough test of this insecticide, express- 
ing confidence that from its unique qualities it would be found to give 
good results. At first the labor and attention to detail necessary in 
preparing arsenate of lead and the natural conservatism of the growers 
militated against extensive experiments. However, in 1898, two cran- 
berry raisers made use of dilute mixtures of arsenate of lead and water 
(from three-fourths to 14 pounds actual arsenate of lead to 100 gallons) 
with fair success. This indicated the desirability of trying greater 
strengths of the insecticide, an opportunity for which presented itself 
in the spring of the present year, when Mr. Edmund Hersey, of the 
Bussey Institute, requested the writer’s advice in arranging .a treat- 
ment for a 25-acre dry bog that had suffered severely from the fireworm 
in 1897 and 1898. Mr. Hersey’s desire to give arsenate of lead a fair 
trial manifested itself in a practical way through the purchase of a 
liberal supply of the necessary chemicals and the engagement of the 
services of several men expert in spraying. 
On June 5, at a time when the work of the fireworm was quite 
perceptible, spraying was commenced with arsenate of lead at the rate 
of 9 pounds (actual) to 150 gallons of water. This work continued until 
the 10th of the month, delayed to some extent by defects in the spray- 
ing outfit, and before the entire bog was covered the larve had caused 
a little injury in a few spots. Aside from this damage, which is men- 
tioned merely to emphasize the rapidity with which the insects develop, 
there was practically no harm from the first brood, and but little was 
expected from the second. The latter, however, appeared on various 
parts of the bog, the vines having grown sufficiently to afford foliage 
free from poison, and a second spraying was made July | to 7, the 
insecticide being used at the rate of 135 pounds to 150 gallons. The 
result of this treatment was soon apparent. All injury by the larve 
ceased, the vines set a fair crop of berries and the owners estimate that 
they will this year gather some 400 to 500 barrels of fruit against 100 
barrels last year. With berries averaging $5 a barrel this means an 
increase in profits from the bog of from $1,500 to $2,000 as the result 
of timely spraying. 
Aside from showing the probable value of arsenate of lead as a 
remedy for the fireworm, the experience of the present year has yielded 
other information of interest 
The rapidity with which damage by the insect spreads is remarkable 
-and a few days’ delay in spraying may entail the loss of the crop. 
Hence, it is desirable to spray an infested bog as soon as possible after 
the first appearance of injury. This necessitates adequate facilities in 
the way of apparatus and labor. Three men with an outfit in first-class 
order and with ample water supply should cover about 8 acres of bog 
in ten hours. 
