the increase in total yield for the aluminum mulch treatments approached signifi-
cance at the 5% level (Table 5).

 DISCUSSION

 Although the two growing seasons during which the experiments were conducted
were extremely different, the common denominator remained the presence of suf-
ficient migrating aphids carrying virus to cause a high percent of infection.
With the exception of treatment 4 in 1971, the use of oil sprays alone or in com-
bination did not significantly improve the delay in virus or increase in pepper
yields. The particular set of conditions that made the oil spray plus aluminum
foil so effective in 1971 did not exist during the second year of testing and
probably could not be repeated. Although insecticides did prevent aphid coloniza-
tion, weevil and worm injury, by themselves, they were not effective in delaying .
virus spread as seen from results with treatment 1 in 1971 and 1972.

 Thus aluminum foil mulches contributed the most to delaying virus development
and increasing total yields. VWhether this repelling action would be as effective
when performed on a larger scale is not known. The use of mulch to reduce ferti-
lizer leaching also probably contributed to the higher yields. Because of the
increased use of bed mulches in commercial operations, the effectiveness of black
plastic and aluminum painted covers in delaying virus spread should be investigated
further.

 SMI.!ARY

 Two years of testing at the Horikami Farm in Delray Beach during epidemic
virus conditions revealed that aluminum foil treatments on a small plot basis
were by far the best control measure for the pepper virus problem. Generally
speaking, the addition of oil and insecticide sprays did not significantly improve
the overall action of the aluminum foil. Increased yields for the mulch treatments
were probably due to both virus delay and reduced fertilizer leaching.