the department is more laboratory room, and we trust steps may be taken to make this available. I desire to extend to you, and through you, to the Board of Control my appreciation of favors received and the support given to this department. Respectfully submitted, NATHANIEL E. WILSON, DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY AND BOTANY. S. A. Jones, Director Agricultural Experiment Station: SIR: I herewith present the following report of the Department of Entomology and Botany for the year 1892. During the year the Department's efficiency has been, I believe, materially increased. This has been brought about by an increase in equipment, and by the acquisition of a better knowledge of conditions and demands in matters peculiar to this Department. A marked increase in the interest of the people of the State in Entomology and Botany has been manifested during the year. Bulletin No. 17 of the Station series was issued by the department in July. This relates to the woolly aphis of the apple, a matter which at that time was creating much general interest. The publication of this bulletin was preceded by a newspaper bulletin in relation to the same subject, and which was sent to each of the papers of the State for publication. Regarding the insects observed during the year that are more particularly injurious, are the following: 66 The The codling moth, Carpocapsa pomonella, seems to be increasing, judging from the difficulty in obtaining sound apples in the market. Those orchards most isolated, and where protective measures, consisting usually of banding the trunks of the trees, have been taken, have yielded a comparatively high percentage of sound fruit. use of Paris green and London purple as a preventative of damage by this insect has not as yet received general attention in this State. The Corn Worm," Heliothis amigera, known in the South as the "Boll Worm," a name received from its habit of boring into the cotton bolls, and common in various parts of the country as an enemy of green corn, is becoming very common in the vicinity of the Experiment Station. Both field and table corn seem to suffer alike. The eggs of this insect are usually deposited in the tip of the ear. The young larva works its way into the kernels, usually destroying the silk in the process. The larva continues its destruction of the kernels till it attains maturity, when it bores through the husk and descends to the ground. Here it completes its transformations and emerges in the form of a moth. Specimens reared in the laboratory demonstrate that there are two broods of this insect each year. Cabbages in the vicinity of Reno have suffered materially during the year from a light green worm, an inch or more in length, which eats large irregular holes in the leaves. The parent of this insect is a small moth, Plusia trassicae. Great numbers of these larvæ were found in some gardens, while in others they seemed less plentiful. A large proportion of the larvae of this species, brought to the laboratory to complete their transformations, produced a parasite from the chrysalis, showing that a natural enemy destroys many of these insects. The cabbage lice were very plentiful. These may be expected each year, and must receive considerable attention if they are to be controlled. The tomato has here at least two insects that are of importance. The large green worm, Mecrosila 5-maculata, which destroys the leaves, has been found in considerable numbers at both Reno and Carson. Green tomatoes bored into by the larva of the moth, Lithophane antennata, have been received at the Station. This larvæ, which was so destructive to rosebuds in 1890, has not been reported as injurious in this respect this year. The Carpet Beetle, Anthrenus scrophulariae, is very abundant. Not only is it found in dwellings, but it is also one of the commonest of beetles found on flowers in the spring. The dark colored, yellow spotted spinous larvæ of Pyrameis cardui are found in considerable numbers on the leaves of the hollyhock. The black, white and pink butterflies produced by these larvæ are among the commonest butterflies we have. The food supply of this insect fortunately is not confined to the hollyhock, but includes also our common wild sunflower, Helianthus annuus, and other plants of economic importance. The larvae of another butterfly, Grapta satyrus, which is closely related to the last named insect and which somewhat resembles the larva of the latter, has been found this year feeding upon the leaves of the hop. A number of crysalids of this species taken for study produced a great number of parasites, which indicate that the insect probably never will become particularly injurious. The pear and cherry slug, Selandria cerasi, has, as usual, been very abundant. The work in botany has included a continued study of the local flora, making contributions to the herbarium of local plants, the identification of specimens sent to the Station for determination, and considerable attention has been given to the weeds of this portion of the State, preparatory to issuing a series of bulletins which shall treat of these weeds in such a manner that the latter may be identified when found intermixed with the seed of grasses and clovers. The department is indebted to a number of individuals who have kindly contributed interesting specimens to the collection of plants and insects. Very respectfully submitted, F. H. HILLMAN, Entomologist and Botanist. Page 9, 21st line from top-read 2 instead of "“4.” Page 11, 21st line from bottom-read different instead of "differeht;" and Ioth line from bottom-read a land instead of "the land." Page 12, 6th line from top-read in instead of “on;" and 15th line from bottom-insert the word these before "spores." Page 15, 3d line from top-read exceed instead of "be." Page 20, 14th line from bottom-read Dwarf Champion, Oct. 10. Peach— instead of "Dwarf Champion Peach." Page 21, in Table 9, the names of varieties should be numbered consecutively from 1 to 12. Page 22, 19th line from bottom-read peppers instead of “pepper.” Page 24, 10th line from bottom-read decorticated instead of "decortiated." Page 25, 3d line from top-read hominy instead of "homing." Page 28, table of Laboratory Work-read Water (sanitary analysis) 8 samples, instead of "98 samples;" and total, 457 samples instead of ‘458." Page 30, 15th line from bottom-read preventive instead of "preventative." |