CULTIVATION FOR DESTRUCTION OF PUP^. 177 
Shallow cultivation should begin therefore in about 9 weeks after 
blossoming of peach. These cultivations should be frequent, that is, 
every week or oftener if practicable, and continued for 6 or 7 weeks. 
As most of the larvae enter the soil near the deserted fruit, the earth 
under the spread of the limbs of the trees will contain the great ma- 
jority of the pupa? and should receive special attention in the course 
of the cultivations. 
Some experiments have been made to determine the effect, on pupse, 
of disturbing the soil. Boxes containing soil were kept in a way to 
approximate out-of-doors conditions as nearly as possible. In some 
boxes the soil was stirred, and in others left undisturbed for com- 
parison. While it has been impossible exactly to duplicate the dis- 
turbance of the earth that would result from field cultivations, yet 
the results are in a way comparable, and indicate as definitely, perhaps, 
as may be determined what may be expected from work of this char- 
acter. The essential features of the results are shown in Table 
LXXXIX. 
In the work at North East, Pa., the boxes were sunk in the soil 
beneath peach trees so that the top would be about level with the 
surface, and were thus subjected to practically normal conditions. 
As indicated in the table, the soil in two boxes was disturbed with a 
rake on July 11 and 20, while two other boxes were left undisturbed. 
In the experiments at Siloam Springs, Ark., in 190S, boxes 2 feet 
square without bottoms were sunk practically level with the earth 
under the shade of an apple tree. One box was cultivated with a hoe 
June 23. 
In the tests in the insectary at Washington, D. C, in 190S, 4 lots 
were used, 2 being treated and 2 untreated. The larvae were placed in 
boxes 24 by 10 inches and 8 to 10 inches deep. These were sunk 
almost level with the surface of the earth. Lot Xo. 1 was cultivated 
by means of a hoe July 8 and 15, while lot Xo. 2 was cultivated only 
once, on July 15. The soil was disturbed to a depth of 6" inches, 
exposing many of the pupae. 
At Douglas, Mich., the boxes were placed in a bright though some- 
what shaded location and the soil in lot No. 1 was disturbed weekly 
by means of a small stick or lend pencil drawn back and forth, extend- 
ing to a depth of 3 or 4 inches in the soil. 
In the experiments at Barnesville, Ga., in 1910, 4 bottomless 
wooden boxes 10 by 12 by 8 inches were used and sunk in the soil on 
the north side of a house, thus being shaded for about one-half of the 
day. Lots Xos. 1 and 3 were placed in sandy loam and lots Nos, 2 
and 4 in red clay. 
17262°— Bull. 103—12 12 
