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as a factor in reducing narcissus bulod fly in- 
festation.--C. H. Martin, of the Sunner, Wash., laboratory, reporting 
on the results obtained in some experiments in depth planting, says 
that "the infestation of Meroden equestris Fab. was determined in 
two plantings of King alfred narcissus bulbs, one plot being planted 
at a depth of 4 inches and the other § inches deep. Otherwise the 
two vlots, which were within 400 feet of each other, were comparable 
for the various factors which effect infestation by this pest. One 
thousand bulbs from the plot planted 8 inches deep had an infesta- 
tion of 1.2 »ercent, while one thousand bulbs from the plot planted 
4 inches deep had an infestation of 14.4 percent. (These data cor- 
roborate similar results obtained at Babylon, L. I., N. Y., in con- 
nection with Eumerus spp.) From this evidence it appears that deep 
vlenting is ea factor of ccnsiderable importance in reducing Merodon 
infestation. 
Spring po»yulstions of beet leafhop er low in Mocesto area.-- 
W. C. Cook, of the Modesto, Callf., area, re,orts as follows: "The 
nunbers of bect leafhoopvers (Eutettix tenellus Bak.) produced in the 
soring generation were the lowest we have recorded. Several factors 
contributed tu this. Becuuse of the late sermination of annuals, the 
leafhopyers were forced to remain on perenniais longer than usual. 
R. Ae Fulton, Twin Falls, Idahc, has determined that when feeding on 
perennials the overwintering leaufho pers draw upon their fat reserve, 
and this undoubtedly was considerably reduced this year, reducing the 
egg-laying capacity of the beet leafhop ers. In the nerth end of the 
area the weather was favorable for a rank zrowth of the host plants, 
@ condition unfavorable for production of leafhoppers. In the 

southern pert conditions were reversed, and in many piaces host plants 
dried up before the egss were lsid. While the unusually warm weather 
jn March hastened the develo;ment of the s;ring gemerstion, the sud- 
den drying of the host plants in the latter part of the month pre- 
vented the maturing of the later nymphs and, over a larse part of the 
area, practically eliminated the chances of a partial second genera- 
tion in the foothills. There is some evidence that this partial 
second generation normally occurs. 
Spring host plant studies in iiodesto, Calif., area.--As a result 
of observational and experinental studies conducted by Wi. C. Cook 
and his asscciates at the Modesto laboratory, on the relative impor- 
tance of certain of the wild host plants of the beet leafhojver, con- 
clusions have been draw which are summarized as follows: "(1) The 
favorebleness of plant species as husts desends upon the other: plant 
Ssvecies present; for instance, Plantazgo shows up as a favorable host 
when present without Leoidium, but where the tw. occur close together, 
Plentago Decomes unimportant. (2) Red stem filarec (Erodium cicte 
tariua) is not an important host, the number of first-instar nymphs 
found on a sample being in direct proyorticon to the number of plants 
of Plantago, Levidium, or ether s,ecies oresont. (3) Calandrinia 
cet i We i Og 
