16 
Bulletin 63. 
must have failed, for some reason, to winter over. These worms ap¬ 
peared on some experimental patches of beets at Lamar and Rocky- 
ford in 1899, and the first brood appeared in destructive numbers 
in 1900. The worms began to appear during the first week in June, 
and were abundant by the 14th, when spraying was begun. 
Late planted beets were not injured by them, except where they 
were planted near patches of weeds or earlier beets. The poisons 
were effectual, especially where two sprayings were made with Paris 
green. 
Other insects mentioned by Prof. Gillette as having been ob¬ 
served on beets and not already mentioned, are Nysius angustatus (often 
called false cinch bug), more or less abundant everywhere, in some 
cases causing beets to wilt and die. Deilephila lineata was found as 
an occasional feeder, especially where purslane was allowed to grow. 
(Mr. Ball’s notes.) 
Chemical Considerations, Bulletin No. 46. 
THE EFFECTS OF ALKALI. 
Sodic carbonate, or black alkali, when present in quantities 
equal to less than 0.1 per cent, of the weight of the dry soil, does not 
prevent a satisfactory germination, but a still smaller quantity, as 
little as 0.05 per cent, of the weight of the dry soil, will corrode the 
plants, both plumule and radical, causing their death. We have 
occasionally observed corroded plants in alkali ground, but in spots 
only. The ground experimented with was very strongly alkalized, 
the worst, in fact, that we had at our disposal. 
Sodic sulfate, or white alkali, does not prevent germination 
when present in quantities equal to less than 0.70 per cent, of the 
weight of the dry soil. No corroding by this salt has been observed. 
The effect of the black alkali, sodic carbonate, is not mitigated 
by the presence of the white alkali. The sodic salts hasten germin¬ 
ation by 36 to 48 hours. 
Magnesic sulfate, one of the constituents of our alkalies, re¬ 
tards but does not prevent germination. 
The beet plant can endure a larger amount of white alkali in 
the soil after it has become established. 
Alkalinity of soil did not effect date of ripening in a series of 
experiments made at the Station. 
