New YoRK AGRICULTURAL HXPERIMENT STATION. 255 
species above referred to are evidently the most numerous and 
consequently do-the most damage. They feed upon the roots, 
often eating the main root nearly off. 
The field of asters that was injured by the grubs is located 
on the outskirts of Geneva. It contained about 20,000 plants 
of several varieties. The soil was principally sandy loam. The 
year previous a crop of nursery trees had been removed from the 
field. The aster plants began to show injury from the work of 
the beetles about the middle of July. The injured plants began 
to wilt suddenly and soon died. Examinations made during 
the latter part of July showed about ten per ct. of the plants 
injured. Later a few more plants were destroyed by the grubs, 
making the percentage of injured plants somewhat higher. The 
grubs were usually found feeding at the crown of the root and 
for a short distance above. Plate XXIX shows two grubs, 
natural size, feeding. In every case the bark had been eaten 
off all the way around the stem and in many cases the stem 
was completely severed. From one to four grubs were found 
at each plant. 
The grubs were all nearly full grown and hence were in their 
second year. If left undisturbed they would have emerged as 
beetles the year following. The eggs were laid in the ground 
during the spring of the year previous and the young grubs were 
evidently supplied with food by the roots of the nursery trees. 
The removal of the trees took this food away from them, which’ 
meant that the crop that followed the next year would be sure 
to be injured by them. 
No attempt was made to revive the injured aster plants, but 
as soon aS one was observed to be wilting it was dug out and 
the grubs destroyed. By going over the field every day for 
about a week during the middle of July large numbers of the 
grubs were killed; probably most of them, as there was but 
comparatively little injury later. White grubs are difficult to 
check after a field has become infested. Prevention is by far the 
most satisfactory. If land is left in meadow for several years 
it is more apt to become seriously infested than if a short rota- 
tion of crops is practiced. 
