TRANSFEB OB ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION. 



less exact method has been to place a limited number of squares in a 

 tumbler od moisl or dry soil in order to make the time of develop- 

 ing m ore nearly normal. These tumblers were covered with 

 cheese cloth and tagged. 



When definite records were not requisite large quantities of squares 

 or bolls were placed in Riley breeding cages and the parasites were 

 obtained in larger quantities with less mortality, winch is Frequently 

 caused by rough handling in the closer examinations. Closed boxes 

 with numerous tubes on one side, after the pattern of the parasite 

 breeding cages adopted by the California board of horticulture, 

 were also used for small quantities of squares. These cages probably 

 hasten development by increasing the heat and moisture. 



There was. however, another problem which proved beyond solu- 

 tion for this season. It may be described as the efforl to induce 

 the parasites to attack the stages in forms placed in cages of various 

 kinds. No positive results were obtained, bul considerable experience 

 was gained in the matter of breeding-cage technique. 



The firsl work was done with various kinds of glassware, closed 

 with cheese cloth. As fast as males and females of the same species 

 could be bred they were isolated in pairs and placed with a limited 

 number of infested squares. These squares were fresh, flared, or 

 fallen, in order to test all conditions. 



Glass tumblers covered with cheese cloth proved too dark. When 

 dry earth was placed in the tumbler or when there was no earth, the 

 squares rapidly dried and became very hard, and the parasites 

 quickly died. When moistened earth was used the squares quickly 

 molded and the parasites were killed by the fungus. When a water 

 reservoir was sunk in the earth the parasites drowned. 



When glass lamp chimneys were placed on clay saucers filled with 

 moist soil there was plenty of light and the material remained in 

 good condition. The objection to this method is that the parasites 

 can not be easily handled. 



Erlenmyer flasks gave plenty of light and were easy to handle as 

 they have' a small mouth, but they sweat profusely and the parasites 

 were caught in the moisture on the glass. Blotters, absorbent 

 cotton, and corks with large wire-covered openings failed to prevent 

 the sweating. . . 



The last attempt on this line was with mica lamp chimneys such 

 as are used with the ordinary incandescent gas burners. These 

 we re covered at both ends with cheese cloth. They are ofhgnl 

 weighl give plenty of sunshine and sufficient circulation. For a 

 small breeding cage they are very handy in many ways. But the 

 parasites did nol attack t he weevil even in these cages. 



In a ll of the above types of cages the life of the parasite was 

 hardly a day. In wire types of cages the parasites lived several 

 davs. In the following, several >>\~ each sex of the parasites were used. 



