CONTROL OF ARGENTINE ANT IN CALIFORNIA. 
33 
of ants in well-cultivated orchards was observed in an orchard 
during the spring of 1920. One row of trees near the center of the 
orchard was missed at the time of sirup distribution, and the first 
inspection showed the ants almost totally eradicated throughout the 
orchard with the exception of this one row, which continued to be 
heavily infested. During experimental work groups of trees in one 
side of an orchard have had the ants controlled through sirup distri- 
bution although the rows bordering these trees were little influenced. 
Orchards in which only part of the trees are attended by ants need 
sirup containers only on the infested trees. In California the plant- 
ings are for the most part from 70 to 100 trees to the acre. 
COMPARATIVE COST OF TINS AND PARAFFINED BAGS. 
The cost of ant sirup fluctuated greatly during the period of ex- 
perimental work, 1917 to 1920, largely because of the changing price 
of sugar and honey. The cost of materials for each gallon of sirup 
in 1917 was $0.61 compared to $1.54 in 1920. The cost of the 2-ounce 
flat spice tins increased about 20 per cent, while paper bags increased 
over 35 per cent in price. The labor cost also materially increased. 
The following comparison is based on 1920 prices: 
Table 2. — Showing the comparative cost of poisoning ants when using tins and when 
using paraffined bags, season of 1920. 
Two-ounce flat spice tins. 
One-fourth-pound paraffined bags. 
Ant sirup for 100 cans * $1. 83 
100 2-ounce spice tins 1. 75 
Ant sirup for 100 bags i $1. 83 
100 |-pound bags 15 
1 pound paraffin .25 
100 2d. finishing nails 015 
100 6-ounce tacks .025 
LABOR. 2 
Punching and dipping 100 
cans 1£ hours. 
Filling and capping 100 cans.. \ hour. 
Distributing 1 hour. 
At $0.39 3 hours. 1.17 
LABOR. 2 
Punching and dipping 100 
bags \\ hours. 
Filling and closing 100 bags . \ hour. 
Distributing § hour. 
At $0.39 2\ hours. 1.07 
Total 5. 015 
Total cost per can 05 
Total 3. 325 
Total cost per bag 03 \ 
1 Based on 84 cans to the gallon at $1.54 per gallon. 
2 This does not include time spent in preparing sirup. 
INFLUENCE OF CONTAINERS ON FEEDING. 
Although both paraffined paper sacks and tin cans have been used 
by the writers for approximately three years, no difference in feeding 
or rapidity of control attributable to the type of container was 
observed. It has been stated by some experienced in ant control 
that greater feeding and more rapid control are effected by the use 
of paraffined paper bags. An experiment to determine this point 
was started in 1920 and the results are presented herewith: Sirup 
