afar 
with as much facility and as good results as were obtained by ordin- 
ary mechanical pickers under ordinary conditions, and with much bet- 
ter results in.borer control. The major part of the corn comprised 
hybrids of large size and rigid stalk development. The results 
clearly demonstrate the practical value of the machine, although 
still in the experimental stage of development, especially with ref- 
erence to the preparation for small grains of cornfields with the 
stalks standing, where plowing is not practiced. Where plowing is 
a part of the treatment of the soil it is evident that the resultant 
cleaner operation possible would leave little or no debris for the 
reestablishment of migzrant borers returning to the surface, as when 
whole stalks are turned under, disked, or otherwise treated, with- 
out attempting a clean operation. 
Immunity and resistance of certain alfalfa plants to pea aphid.-—- 
R. A. Blanchard, Sacramento, Calif., reports that 49 alfalfa plants, 
grown from self-fertilized seed from 5 plants that showed immunity 
to pea aphid (Illinoia pisi Kalt.) damage under field conditions, 
were tested for immunity or resistance to aphid attack in outdoor 
cages: 29 of the plants showed apparent immunity, 8 apparent re- 
Sistance, and 12 susceptibility. Of 17 check plants, 15 were sus- 
ceptible and 2 showed some resistance. The 2 resistant plants 
failed to grow normally in the cages. Of 7 seedlings from plants 
showing immunity to I. pisi under Wisconsin conditions (seed sup- 
plied by John =. Dudley, Jr.), 4 showed immunity, and 3 apparent re- 
sistance, under Califurnia conditions. Bcth series of cages suggest 
that the plants are heterozygous, and further self-fertilizaticn will 
be necessary in order to obtein pure-line sced. Aphids were unable 
to live for more than 5 days'on the immune plants. They became dark 
green and shrunken after being on the plants for a day or so, and 
repeatedly deserted the plants. Shortly after death, the aphids be- 
came light green in color and gradually turned brown after a day or. 
so. The dead aphids were almost always found near the edges of the 
cage, showing that they were attempting to migrate from the plants 
when death overtook them. No new-born nymphs reached maturity on 
the immune plants, although occasionally an adult produced nymphs 
uvyon them. On plants consideréd resistant, only a very small pro- 
portion of new-born nymphs reached maturity, and the adults gave 
birth to not more than 12 nymphs per female. On the check plants 
the average was 68 nymphs per female. 
Farm vractices to decrease frasshonper infestations in Sacra- 
mento Valley.--C. C. Wilson, Sacramento, reports that some 450 acres 

