Other cut-worms identified by the same authority were Feltia gladiaria, Feltia venerabilis, Sidemia devastator. The invasion at St. Johns in mint gave us an opportunity to test the value of arsenate of soda as compared with ordinary "white arsenic" when used. in preparing poison bait. In this test some of the bait was made by mixing thoroughly White arsenic, 1 pound. Bran, 1 bushel. Molasses, 1⁄2 gallon. Banana oil, 2 ounces. The other bait was prepared much more easily by dissolving one pound of arsenate of soda and a half-gallon of molasses in sufficient water to moisten one bushel of bran, to which two ounces of Amyl acetate (banana oil) was subsequently added. Both of these baits were thinly broadcasted in checker board fashion over the fields. Both produced immediate effects and both checked the work of the cut-worms, but the bait made with the soluble arsenate of soda showed itself to be somewhat superior, probably owing to the more even mixture. When prepared in this way every particle of bran receives its proper proportion of poison and of sweetening. The Spruce-mite (Paratetranychus ununguis) Second only in importance to the European red-mite is the spruce-mite,second only because of the comparative values of the host-plants. Spruce hedges which appear unthrifty are often found to be infested and in one case a hedge of white cedar, (arborvitae) in close proximity to infested spruce trees, was found to be badly infested by a mite which very closely resembled, if indeed it was not identical with that on the spruce trees. Extensive tests of control measures will be necessary before it will be advisable to make recommendations, however, some gratifying measure of success has followed the use of dust composed of very finely divided sulphur. The European Red-mite (Paratetranychus pilosus) At least three areas of infestation now exist in Michigan. An apple orchard in the vicinity of St. Johns was found during 1925, also later, one near Fowler and one near Ovid. On some trees the mites occurred in large numbers. On May 17, 1926, the eggs were plentiful on the fruit-spurs, and later on June 1, the mites were lined up along the mid-ribs on the upper surfaces of leaves. Reddish-brown dots about the size of pinheads, were also scattered over the surfaces of the leaf-blades. Later the leaves turn brown, wilt and sometimes become leathery, and in severe cases, fall to the ground, resulting in undeveloped fruit. The pest is now pretty well scattered over the United States where it is recorded on apple, sour cherry, peach, pear, hawthorn, rose, mountain ash and plum. The European red-mite, or as it is sometimes called the "European Redspider," is a serious enemy of all these plants. The control measure usually recommended is a spray of one of the miscible oils applied just before growth starts in the Spring, when necessary, to be followed by repeated sprayings with dilute lime-sulphur during the summer. Fig. 19.-Early work of European Red Mite on apple, slightly enlarged. During the winter of 1926, the State Board of Agriculture authorized the Director of the Michigan Experiment Station to establish a field station in territory infested by the European corn-borer in cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Entomology. The purpose of which station should be to make intensive studies in all methods pertaining to the control or restriction of this major pest of corn. Accordingly the heads of the departments of Farm Crops and of Entomology in company with Mr. D. G. Caffrey, chief of research work on corn-borer in the Michigan State Bureau of Entomology, met at Monroe and after a careful canvassing of the whole situation selected a location 72 miles west of the city of Monroe. Suitable land and buildings were rented by the State Board on April 1st and as soon therefore as expedient plats were laid out by the Department of Field Crops and plantings made, Mr. A. R. Marston of the Department of Field Crops being resident in charge of the agronomic side of the work. The Bureau of Entomology placed Dr. Philip Lubinbill, in charge of the entomological problems. At present there is a well appointed laboratory with an adequate corps of investigators and assistants stationed there. Parasites are being bred as rapidly as possible and released in infested fields and data of corn-borer activities in that particular locality are being collected. The station has already taken its place in the system of out-stations engaged in earnest investigations into the variation in habit noticed in different localities. During the year the following publications were gotten out by the Department of Entomology: Circular Bulletin No. 70 The Present Status of the European Corn-borer in Michigan. R. H. During the fiscal year, 1925-6, no changes have been made in the personnel of the section of entomology; however, two extra men were employed in order to make possible the work on the cherry fruit-fly. Mr. Sid Robinson, a graduate of Mississippi State College who was studying at Cornell University, and Mr. G. S. Tolles, a graduate of Michigan State College and now a regularly appointed member of the Department of Entomology, spent the summer in the field collecting data on the life-history and control of that serious pest. Both of these gentlemen accomplished in an eminently satisfactory manner, the work to which they were assigned. Mr. C. B. Dibble, a graduate assistant during 1925, also rendered valuable aid in the study of forest and shade-tree pests during the summer. Respectfully submitted, R. H. PETTIT, Entomologist of Experiment Station. REPORT OF THE SECTION OF FARM CROPS To the Director: Sir: I herewith present report of the Farm Crops Section for the fiscal year closing June 30, 1926. Several major changes have been made in field arrangements and plans for experimental work. The transfer of barns and other livestock equipment to the south side of the river necessitated the relinquishment of fields 9 and 10, by this section. In place of these fields, a forty-seven (47) acre tract, part of the recently purchased Biebesheimer farm, was assigned, by the Director, to the Farm Crops Section. The greater part of this area has been given over to Plant Breeding work. Mr. Down has planted eight-year rotations occupying eight areas each 3.2 acres in size. Five smaller fields of two acres each furnish a five-year rotation series for experimental work. The new area and the sugar beet land is being tile drained. The plotting system is being changed from the long narrow plots such as have been used for the past fourteen years to the rod row system, using nine replications. Messrs. E. E. Down, H. M. Brown, and F. H. Clark are engaged in plant breeding projects. Mr. Down reports the following main projects under way: Alfalfa breeding work directed toward selection of valuable hay producing strains which produce seed under Michigan conditions. The selection of sweet clover strains. One strain of promise-a white flowered bushy type biennial sweet clover about two weeks later in blooming than the common biennial, has been planted for increase to the extent of three acres. In the bean series, the Robust continued to lead in yield in the fourth year of a series containing all available white pea beans of value. A new bean series even more inclusive, was started this year. The corn breeding work occupied 6.4 acres, about 10,000 ears being selfed during the past season. The effort to produce a yellow A tester commercial corn is nearing completion. The F4 generation of a cross between yellow corn and A tester corn was produced this year and crosses are being made between the F4 and C, R, and A testers to prove out the A testers. In the barley series, the two white smooth awn barleys, strains 04103 and 04113, developed by the late Professor F. A. Spragg, compared very favorably with Wisconsin No. 9, Michigan Two-row and several new importations. An increase of the 04113 strain was planted and should its comparative yield be maintained, a large increase will follow. Tests with wheat include two complete series in their second year, carrying all available varieties of white and red winter wheat of possible value for Michigan. A very promising barbless red winter wheat of unusual hardihood was secured from Ontonagon county. In the comparative series, the Berkeley Rock wheat released from this station in 1917, shows a high degree of immunity from stinking smut and from loose smut. The Markton oats secured from the Washington Experiment Station, selected there for rust resistance and yielding ability, show great resistance to rust under Michigan conditions. The cooperative sugar beet project with the Office of Sugar Plant Investigations, U. S. D. A., continues as planned. Ninety strains are on test at the present time. These are planted in 30 foot rows, systematically, replicated nine times with a standard variety every 4th plot. Records are being kept on tonnage, sugar content, purity, blight resistance, and the inheritance of many morphological characters. Outstanding mother strains will be crossed and progeny tested. Extensive crosses of most desirable parents will be made for general planting in the near future. Mr. Lavis is giving his entire time to sugar beet breeding projects. In the cultural experiments with beets, Mr. Lill has shown clearly that higher yields and higher sugar content are secured by planting beets closer in the row than is the usual practice. When planted from 8 to 10 inches apart in rows 22 inches apart, much better yields were secured than when planted 10 to 12 inches apart in the row greater distance. Mr. Lill reports the following results for some of the most significant of last year's projects: or at "The work has been divided into a number of sub-projects which are designed according to the methods being compared. The sub-project will be designated and the results to date will be briefly given for each one. The Date of and Depth of Plowing: Four-inch plowing produced 3118.8 pounds of sugar per acre. These figures are based on one season's work-1925-in which thirty sets each set consisting of nine determinations were averaged and compared according to statistical methods in use by the station. The Date of Planting: Beets planted on May 6th produced 3112 pounds of sugar per acre. The above results are from the 1925 season only. Although three seasons' work has now been done on the effect of the Date of Planting, the seasons have been so widely different that a summary cannot as yet be made. However, it is very noticeable that the earlier plantings in each season produce the most sugar per acre. The Rate of Planting: As the seed furnished the sugar beet growers costs from ten to fifteen cents a pound, the price varying from season to season and from district to |