A rating of redlegged grasshopper, Melanoplus femurrubrum (DeGeer), damage
was made on June 8. The rating was based on a scale of 0 to 10 with 0 = none
and 10 = 100% of the foliage showing some grasshopper damage.

 Visual phytotoxicity ratings were begun on April 25 (pretreatment count),
and all succeeding counts were made on the same dates as aphid counts. Plots
were rated according to severity of phytotoxicity observed. The readings were
based on the following rating system:

 0 = None
 1 = Slight leaf spotting or chlorosis
 2 = Moderate leaf spotting or chlorosis
 3 = Heavy leaf spotting or chlorosis with some necrosis
 4 = Severe leaf spotting or chlorosis with considerable necrosis

 Four leaf primings or harvests were made during the crop season for evalu-
ation of crop performance on June 7, 21, July 5, and 25. Yield was calculated
in pounds per acre from the total weight of cured leaves from each treatment
replication. The crop value or dollar return per acre was obtained by multi-
plying the yield in pounds per acre by the return in cents per pound of cured
leaf. The value per pound was based upon the price of the various grades of
tobacco.

 The treatment data were subjected to an analysis of variance, and the
least significant difference (LSD) and Duncan's multiple range tests were
applied to all means to obtain statistical comparisons for data interpreta-
tion.

 Rainfall data collected for the term of the experiment are expressed in
inches as follows:

 March April May June July

 21 0.35 7 0.05 2 2.00 6 0.12 1 0.14
 28 0.72 12 0.10 11 0.40 7 0.12 5 1.00
 Total IT.7 13 0.43 16 0.17 8 0.11 11 0.37
 20 0.45 25 0.23 28 0.42 12 0.07
 27 0.22 26 0.86 Total 0.77 14 0.15
 Total 1.25 27 0.06 19 0.30
 Total 3.72 21 0.68
 25 0.31
 Grand Total = 9.83 inches Total 3.02

 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

 The experimental tobacco was planted in late March in order to avoid
freezing temperatures as experienced during the past two years. However, no
severe freezes occurred to affect planting. Insect infestations appeared
about the same time as in 1987, but were somewhat less numerous initially.
The green peach aphid population was smaller initially, but was considerably
larger at the peak on June 8. The aphid population was primarily the red
form. Although populations of aphids reached larger numbers at the peak than
in 1987, PVY infestations were not as large. Only 12 percent of the plants
exhibited symptoms of PVY infection on May 11. The tobacco budworm population
was slightly less numerous initially than in 1987, and never reached as large