Farm Field And Garden

Professor J. H. Comstock and his assistent, of Cornell University Agricultural experiment station, have publisbed a very full and careful bulletin on the subject of wire worms. The bulk of the bulletin consists of an account of an extensivo series of experimente for preventing the ravages of these insects or for destroying them in their different states. The preventivo experimente were conducted entirely in the direction of protecting seed. The following substances were used: Paris green and flour, tar, salt solution, copper solution, chloride of lime and copperas solution, kerosene oil, turpén tine and a strychnine solution. The details of tlie experinients show that no practical results are likely to be obtained in this direction. The results of the experiments for the destruction of the larvse show that it is not worth while to attempt to starve out the worms by leaving laud in fallow through the season; that the growing of buckwheat, mustard or rape upon infested land does not rid it of wirewonns. Kerosene emulsión and pure kerosene, as well as crude petroleum, while moderately effective are not recommended on account of their cost. The killing power of salt, kainit, muríate of potash, lime, chloride of lime and gas lime upon the larvas was carefully tested with the result that salt was f ound to be the only substance from which any practical results were obtained. Used at the rate of eight tons per acre the worms will be destroyed, bnt there will be no chance for vegetation for eome time afterward, and as a matter of course the remedy will be so expensive as to preclude its use except upon very valuable land. So f ar in the course of the experimentation against the larvae scarcely any practical results have been obtained, butthe work against the adult beetles was more satisfactory. Fall plowing is shown to destroy the perfect insects. The early recommendations in regard to trapping the beetles with baits of clover and dough are repeated. Trap lanterns were used without satisfactory result. In bulletin No. 80 of the New Jersey experiment station, Professor J. B. Smith gives his experience with kainit against wireworms, which he found on a large scale to be strikingly successful. Professor Comstock's experiment was conducted in the laboratory and on a small scale.