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Show MENACE TO THE ALFALFA CROP The luccrn crop in Utah is menac- t 1 cd by the appearance in fields in Salt J Lake County, of a very serious pest in the form of what is known as alfalfa w'cvil. The insect is a common onq in the alfalfa fields of Europe, but so far as known, the appearance . of the insect in Salt Lake County is the first of the kind in the United States. Some of the fields of luccrn in this county last year were practically practi-cally robbed of their leaves and the damage done where the pest gains a foothold is enormous. Prof. ' E. G. Titus, of the Agricultural Co'ulcgc, is studying this insect but froirfthc fact that the lots and fields in. Salt Lake City have become affected with the pest, he regards the question of its eradication as amost serious one. ( Discing the field after the removal cf each crop is suggested as a remedy. reme-dy. The discing of thctteld can do no possible harm aiiff certainly 's beneficial in ninny ways. The editor of this paper disks his luccrn field as soon as the frost is out of the J. ground, discing both ways. It as- sists in retaining moisture, destroys Hi grass and weeds, loosens hc top com- ' j pactcd soil and thickens the stand. As an added argument, Prof. Titus th'nks discing is a remedy for the weevil. Then the ficlVd should be plowed up every five years at loos. The Dcscrct Farmer suggests that wherever trouble with alfalfa appears? G the owner get in immediate communis cation with the Experiment Statipn people at Logan. |