ae 

Mite infestation of bush blackberries a»vparently increasesyield.—— 
S. E. Crumb, of the Puyallup, Wash.’, laboratory, reports that. "Re- 
sults of the experiment on the’ Texas bush blackberries within the 
limits observed:indicate that the yield tended ts increase as the 
redberry mite (Eriophyes essigi- Hassun) increased. . Thus, with an 
average of 18 mites per. berry, the yield was 281. pounds per row, while 
with en average of 666 mites per berry, the yield was 403 pounds »er 
row. Normaily the Texas blackherry is subject ‘to a heavy drop be- 
cause the fruit clings but slightly to the calyx. In the Evergreen 
and Himalaya varieties of blackberries, mite infestation causes the 
fruit to cling strongly to the calyx. Apparently mite infestation on 
the Texas blackberry is. beneficial in that the infestation causes the 
berries to cling, thus reducing the amount of loss due to drop. 
Wind probably importar tant, n Spread of redberry mite.--S. E. Crumb 
also reports that a study of the spread of: E. essigi during the fall 
shows that the mite has spread from 1 to 4:miles from centers of in- 
festation since the examination a year: ago and has appeared in some 
isolated spots in which it.is somewhat difficult to account for the 
origin of the infestation, unless the nites were carried by the wind. 
The importance of wind as an agency in distribution is further indi-’ 
cated by the fact that spread seers less rapid toward the north, the 
prevailing wind being from the northwest. Several additional infes- 
tations of wild Ever;treen and Himalaya blackberries were found this 
season. nak: 
Fluorine compounds found of value in control of lima bean pod 
borer.--Rodney Cecil, Ventura, Caiif., reports favorable results in 
control of the lima bean pod borer (Eticlla zinckenella Treit.) 
through the use of both barium fluosilicate and sodium'fluoaluminate. 
These materials give considerably better results than any of a con- 
Siderable series of materials tried. The following tabulation gives 
the seasonal average of the effectiveness uf these two materials. 

Average 
Insecticide pods per Pods 
plant worny 
Number Percent 
Parium fluosilicate, 30% °°. . . . Bo. 77 20.04 
Sodium fluoaluminate, 80%... % Gia ae Lice 
Re. "4 a Sette es a 8 eth s 11.00 89.61 


Preliminary work indicates that these insecticides will also 
give effective control of the bean leaf skeletonizer (Autographa 
egena Guenee). Magnesium arsenate, lead arsenate, or calcium arsen- 
ate will not kill the larve of this insect. 
