OCR Text |
Show STRAWBERRY. ROOT WEEVIL PEST. Oregon Agricultural College, Cor-vallls, Cor-vallls, Oro., Juno 19. "No really satisfactory satis-factory treatment Is at prosont known for this serious pest," says Assistant Entornollglst A. I. Lovctt. O. A. C, discussing the attacks of the strawberry-root weevil on beds In the Free-wator-MIIton district. "Fields do not generally begin to show the attacks until tho beginning of the third season, and those planted In hills not bo soon ns those in the mat system. Tho Mngoon and Clark Seedling are especially prone to attack, at-tack, while tho Gibson seems practically practi-cally Immune. Wheie fields were watered from the Hudson Bay ditch thoy wore usually Infested , though often absolutely froo If watered from private wells. "This Indlcntcs that the beetles from Infested patches up stream ciawl Into the ditch nnd are washed down to fields bolow. As thoy can not fly, and enn only crawl, outside agencies must bo used for transportation transporta-tion any great distance. Thoy feed and crawl at night, resting In darkened dark-ened or sheltered nooks by day. "SlnCH tho adult 1) ratios fnnd on thn foliage, suraylng with one of tho arsenical ar-senical poisons would suem effective. But two faetors argue against this. Tho beotloB emerge nnd commence depositing eggs whon the berries are In full fruit, and thoy havo a wide range of host plants nnd aro not heavy feeders, so avoid sprayod foliage, olther feeding on other crops or waiting wait-ing for growth. "I am trying out different materials with n view to repelling or killing the grubs In tho soil. It Is a groat problem to obtain something which j will destroy tho grub and yet not Injure In-jure the tender plant. One Free-water Free-water grower reports success in UBing ashes and lime on Infested fields and then flooding with water. Anothoi grower plans to flood tbo soil this -full after the picking season, and ' koep the plants Bubmorgod several I days. ThlB should kill tbo grub, but just what tho posslblo offect on tho Btrawborry plants and young fruit tiees will be Is yet to be seen. Tho troatmcut would, at Ionst, be confined to Irrigated districts, which do not In-cludo In-cludo all the fields Infested. I "Since tho beetles can not fly, the barrier method may bo used. A field I of about an aero and a half Id onoloaod by a low fenco such as, it is hoped, will koep the peBt out. Tho weevil is a serious peat with many factors making Its control a complex prpblem. We hope eventually for satisfactory solution and aro not dlscoura'gcd. We aro at all times, however, glad of suggestion, sug-gestion, report ot experience and observation ob-servation from growers, and will appreciate ap-preciate anj' offer of co-operation. |