1904-] 



Grubs on Oats. 



215 



several smutty ears could not be detected. Formalin being a 

 colourless liquid and poisonous, must be kept where there is no 

 danger of persons ignorant of its nature getting hold of it. 



The use of formalin has also been investigated by several of 

 the United States Experiment Stations, and in the North 

 Dakota Experiment Station Bulletin it is stated that a small 

 hand spray pump will be found very useful for applying the 

 solution in the following way : Place the grain upon a water- 

 tight floor or on a canvas, spray on the solution, and shovel or 

 rake over the grain until it is seen to be evenly moist. Leave 

 it for a few hours before sowing. The grain for seed should be 

 measured before treatment, and again before seeding, to 

 ascertain how the drill should be set in order to sow the 

 required amount of the swollen seed. The strength of the 

 solution recommended in this bulletin is 1 lb. of formalin to 

 45 gallons of water, and it is stated that this also prevents 

 potato scab if the tubers are soaked in it for i| hours before 

 being cut for planting. A solution of 1 pint of formalin to 

 30 gallons of water, however, is recommended by the Ohio and 

 Connecticut Stations. Particulars of experiments at Wisconsin 

 Experiment Station were given in this Journal, Vol. IX., p. 366. 

 In cases where formalin is used as suggested, the Board would 

 be glad to learn how far its employment proves successful. 



During the months of May and June of the present year 

 the Board have had . many enquiries addressed to them on 

 the subject of injury to the oat crop by the 

 Grubs on Oats, attack of grubs. In every case the insect- 

 has proved to be the " Leather Jacket," 

 which is the larval stage of the common " Daddy Long-Legs," 

 or a nearly related species. This pest is fully described in the 

 Board's leaflet, No. it, copies of which may be obtained on 

 application. 



Although the particular grubs that did the damage in spring 

 and early summer of the present year will not be in existence 

 next year, they will, in the interval, have produced mature flies, 

 and these, in the autumn of this year, will lay the eggs from which 

 " Leather Jackets " will emerge to destroy next year's crops. 



