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Show New Device Checks Ravages of Alfalfa Pest Spraying Sounds Knell of Doom for Weevil A' HOME-MADE spraying apparatus in operation in an alfalfa, field. The arrangement of the spray shown is consld- j: ered desirable for the spread and evenness of the distribution. Below is an enlargement showing what the alfalfa j I stock and leaf look like when the weevils are feeding. j Msg fcf Edward Taylor, special field asent for I J the .bureau." and a reporter for Tbo 1 fc Tribune, made a tour of the principal fields where experiments in spraying E were carried ou thi " sp-riui; and early y summer among the alt ait a fields. , i Approximately ;ij00 acres were treated with the spraying process in Utah, Juab, Carbon. Sanpete and Sevier ' counties. Without a single exception. ' .every acre sprayed demonstrated visibly ; r the beneficial results of the treatment. They demonstrated in the clearest, most f j tangible way possible, that of putting ha- in the fanners' barns. There is W nothing which appeals so much to the , P farmer in the way of demonstration as fc actually adding bushels, or tons, or some p other actual measurable quantities to his g crop yield. That is exactly the way in ' which" the spraying demonstrated to k those who used it, t he protection it jj 1 affords for alfalfa' fields against the 1 E weevil. j Investigation Is Extensive. l The party saw field after field, farmer after farmer. There was not a field hi p which the results were not clearly . f shown, not a farmer who tric-d the b method who wasn't delighted. The re- k porter was no farmer, and protruded to j a no knowledge of agriculture, lie made ! h the trip simply to observe the actual tl facts ol the situation. jf Jlay in the bam i? a fact. The j opinions of the farmers who made the i F triaJs are worthv of consideration. Their conclusions .build up a testimony j f that 13 irrefutable as e idtuce of the success of the method outlined, for coui- 0 bating the alfalfa weevil. k Even the veriest amateur, onco shown a weevil-infested field, with its parched j appearance, can tell without trouble or , ! danger of misapprehension the dirl er- ence between such a crop and a field of rich green where the alfalfa is in ji full leaf. The pest-ridden field, shows b unmistakably the efTects of the eating. E -which the "weevil, in both the larva S and adult states has d"i:e. The indi- j vidua! leaf looks to the laymau like ajk miniature piece of muh fadd gTeen i cloth, riddled and frayed with moth': holes. The liedd as a whole looks almost ! j white when the feeding of the pest has!) been at all heavy, and even from a dis- j tance it cri be teen that the plants are nearly leaflets; and tho hay. which j should be of a luxuriant growth, i j meagre and frayed. This condition is true of the first crop i j befnre cutting. As for the second crop. ' it is rather an alteration of conditions ! J than a material change of nature, ! ! Crop Is Big Asset. j When the w-nil is bnt unmolested, i to feed as it will on the rieid, after the ' first crop is cut. the second crop never j zets a start. As soon as the firt green j .-hoots bt'gin to appear, the inject is i at work, and the larmer miglit a- well) turn his field to .a?ture. for his chances' fur a return are practically nil. Some indication of the importance of i the alfalfa crop i? gained by the s'atis- ' ! tic, which show that there were 3i4. I acres of farm laud deotc i To alfalfa ! in 191., and the crop from thi tern-i tern-i torv was tfn. abicd at i ST.O.'H'rt. In li'lo there wire i'-i.'11-".1' ' a-'res in the state devoted to a! fa i fa. I (The viebl that var as 5 w.'-'J tor 5. i j varied at 5 1 L',f5 7 . 'v'"1. 1 The money value of the crop does j not indicate its fn'l ronornc irr.jor-I irr.jor-I tar.ee to th aricul'.unst of 1'th'i h ! the surrounding states. The H'-tmn i I tho stock to be fe,1 with tne t'tac . cros ir.sef arable from the hay ltie'f. ! Vd:h inadequate forage th farm--rs lf-' lf-' rr.one v , not o :.i v through the c ro f ;i: 1-ure. 1-ure. nut t'om their inability t" i--ed : their cattle adequately i'iniur the ' n.ont hs when they cu-cot be on t :ir . range. f'rf- .-K S' I to their Doriral crops with assurance. .r V. -F ' -S; ! io nrjcb has been ma.io sure by the K. jt I .i I oxjicriments coiuliu'te.1 thi year, for the f -. if! ' I r,rst time, on a coo5i.lrable scale, which V'" f f ' ; i that' spraying the fields will mini- f : I mire damage bv weevils on the first cut- ' VSxyK't-? S-f ' i titJfts of the'hav and eliminate it .tV;S ygT ! enurelv from the second and third. VJiUA'-Vy " . ft would perhaps be going too far tc v'v jr ! state that the days of the weevil are I' Jf i " I nded for once urd all. but it is not I yvrjr . I exasr-eratinif in the least to sav that M ' ' the" powers of the pest for evil have S. : -IvJ ' been checked where tt-e spraying method . y snow a this year has been used, audthat T-'CJ ji i - tne. farmers who follow the lead of the tf f KV" vanguard next vear can wipe off from J fit TS?! the hooks of" their apprehension; FV ' J v. fl VfS thoughts of a failure of erups due to tho ff f-U altaiia weevil. S j : S - Pest Is Pernicious. I The weevi! ma-le its appearance in 5 t$ -t - - the stare eight years ago on an alfalfa lit field, near Salt Lake. Since then its I to their normal crops Ti:h assurance. j miioli has been ma.io i;re by the exH'rimenrs coiiuih'TOiI tbi year, for the! 1 r.rst time, on a eon-.i'lfrable scale, which ' ho-.v that" spraying the neKls will mini- mire damage by wtevils on the first cut-: i ticps of the hay and eliminate it: jenurelv from the second and third. ! I It would perhaps be oin too far to i state that the days or the weevil are j (ended for once ;:M :l11. but it is not j exac-aniiiT in the least to sav that , ' the "power? ot the pest t'r evil have1 beu checked where the srraying method mown this vear has been used, and that tne. farmers who follow the lead of the ! vanguard next year can wipe otf from! the books or their apprehensions i thoughts of a failure of erups due to the alfalfa weevil. Pet Is Pernicious. The weevi! made its appearance in j the stare eiht years a. on an alfalfa J field, near Salt Lake. Since then its I spread has been steady, until now the1 pest has been discovered in nil the important im-portant alfalfa districts of I'tah, in several sev-eral counties of Idaho. ' somewhat in Wvomine. Colorado and Oregon. The prores of tne insect has been' marked wi;h dire results to tho alfal'a i crops. A consideration which ma-ks 1 this particular crop pet a probably ; the most pernicious one in the state is: the close relation ot the aifalta industry to all other phases of agricultural endeavor in tho sections affe.'ted. Without alfalfa with which to feed their stock, the cattle meu cannot show a jirorit. The same holds true of the dairying industrv. Stock, dairies and hay are irrevocably linked in the chain of farininiT. and the weakcuinc or break-ic break-ic of pTobablv the mo?t important of the three links spells ruiu for tho farmer. Alfalfa King. i The alfalfa cron constitutes approximately approxi-mately s per cent of the' total forage produced in Vtah. The hay crop is outranked out-ranked in value of agricultural products of t be state only by the cattle which ir f-vds. A roniapcM co-ill be written about this forage which uox'd rival the i histories of princes, fur alfalfa has ben I kin in many places, and has traveled far to rnd in this western country conditions con-ditions i iph for its best development (and production, provided the weevil can be checked. That it can be. ai:d undoubtedly will be. was dmo'i-trat-'d last wvk to the two men who have had nu-st to do with the expehn-.ents b-adin to ;he solution now at hand. Kariy In the wck (r.-oree T. Kivvc?, entomological a-i-tant in the bnr--a;i of rntomlotrv of t'h1 b parment of agricultural, to up his full title; J. THE alfalfa weevil is conquered. The pest which for the last eiht vears. has diminished almost by half the alfalfa yield in all parts of the state affected can be overcome. For the first time in these years th1 farmers and stovkmea can look forward Slow to Feci Effects. ! Tf thr dairy f;rm.fr's crop of a! fa' fa I fails he liit bi:v thr hny fro:n n-rc , niore fortunate ii'ihl.'C" with wv-:.di I11 ! t'.-.'d h 1 1 herd.-. And when :he fanr- -!, mr-t with hard t:mi"s th other clem":, j of the community share in th j;ei:ir;ilt misfortune. Th oa-? of th" -ncil. f.r-t b-ouht to uttn''n in ! va- at the o,:t-.'"t rjardt'd a probably .1 pi-i:i bisht. l'erin? w ri s!nw to that H- j.oN'ir-of j.oN'ir-of d'"-' mt inM were pr;it;'al'y utilrn-itc utilrn-itc i. Tfip :rad of tho ( .5. v,ri .-low in the first vear-. 1 rrad'ial'y. howr . r. j a rh" cumbrr of the iiw-'t? m ii 1 t : ; 1 1 y i . tu i an c tT-iiirr-a-;!'t: m:niber of t:-I ! b-?:in to be n'f-.'tpd. th-1 f.-dvral uuthor-it:-s w'rf railej u;'"ii for h . y. -ht rar i Mr. Kei'vr w n "i,'nrd to tho nnr of ti riding m n.tnnd Of ro'nb.'iTinj the i'. H c.imo to ftlt I.a'r.'1 and ur.rrrdintdy -.r! about a study of 1 in- w r v and 1 1-. di'prdnion!L It wn a flow pr'n---, be rau"C th" bu' do.-s it darnae .1 1 but or.e ?hort prri.nl vf turh rar. I- j i:(vrs.'irv to lv the w.-oill rln.'l ; to Uarn its habits of lif it-, eatn, its trrowt h a:id nm ! ip!i'"a! ion ; to larn how it i ;tq1; to fa-:, to work out (ho probb-n: to its ir..t rmiiut- J .Irtail b'-fnro .ra--t n;J c xyr t - j i rouid be und-Ttaki-n. First Attempts. I lTn''tn'e tidbit, limited in area, were ( ud for tho tirM yrars of tho invi-M- j nation, ijn the-e were tried many rt , perinirnts of method to ot-reoii'r the .rsf rueti e jinwcrs of t he Y lb, for bee'lo it is r.-ally. In UMT Mr. Keee and his aM-tai t. wore pre:. are. 1 to in-an'i in-an'i ra' e their ft nal e p-ri in en w hi.'h thev i-pr.-te, tn j-ro id- pro. if thnt th'-v had foun I a method of nde-piatt-ly rombatinK tho p-t. Hut it so happened that in 1917 the r,.-athrr rordtrinn t hem selves obviated tho ncc - ity far Bliv Mllti w 1 evil etTorts. I The spring and earlv sinimor of 1 1 1 T were too Tiiild to per-nit the growth of b weevils, an. I nt the am.' time were ( not ru'd enuiiL;h to hinder the f)e -e!.p 1 .nrnl of the plant-, with the nnlt that 'the v. erMbinfeetfl TM'bi - H ve their . tin-', nonnal rropt fine" their infeslu ! A vnir :i;n the war made it impossible ! to .tr.-ure the proper porous, and n'ain j the exprriiiiioit'. on a Inre s'nb' liad I to be postpone, b I'.Mt tliis j-nn2, with ; the relation of hostilities, and appm;.i J i in ate lv r or ma I rnndition pre .-ulinu'. j I Mr. Hee-vrs and Mr. 'lalor had an r.p ' portunity to try roit their spraying met hoil on a r on si derablo a!e. j I Tavlor I.s Missionary. Mr. 'Tayb-r w f" the m i.stion ti ry amonc the f armers. I e went to t hem, h. Id meotini. lertnred, talked Hod persuaded li' an v lo make the c pe ri me r t . 'Pm farmers were, nmO ot them, losing money ni their al f a I f a, as it a and wern willing to t ry a 11 ' h i n ,f w h i-'li i'romise.1 t h" possi b'i 1 1 y of re I n-1" from the drvn tJ t ioiim of the ueei. The met tin. I of spray i n vi -e. (Ins fcji-inc in thiv Tw o pcejnd" of pow .iire.l arsenate of 1 bad to the hundred gallon of water j ' itf spraved over cvrv a. to of the j alfalfa tield. Tim apparatu? n-ed aried 1 j from the est epenste home made j rontrivnneo t4i a fortv horsepower n- 1 yino and manv aiitomatie .f vi.tm. AH thai ip iirrri:irv is to have a tank or I barrels to eontam the li.pil l. an engine j lo dri- v the pump, n pump to di- tribute , the (bud and no.-dei or ollo-r m-ao- o I providing a fprav to ipread the li.juid on the ti-dd. ' 1 In a great inanv in-tanre. fruit .pr;n j (C'ont. hunvl ou T'rko Fourteen.) m NEW DEVICE CHECKS ! !!ES fir PEST ;i (Continued from Page Ton,) j int: outfits wore isi-.l with success, thouch these are not i.lcnlly adnpto.l to the Ai'M spraying:. The fruit out fits are usuallv equipped to give a hither pressure pres-sure than is necessary on the lield. In addition, the arsenate of lend remains in suspeusion in the tanks, for" it is not solv.hle in v.-a;er, and must be constantly agitated to keep it at the proper mix- ; lure. j Other Methods Used. j There hn-l been another motho.l used to combat tin; weevil nnor to tins yiiir, and one that was used much during the present stason. Tliat is the bnih-urag-tih of the tiehls after the first cutting. I'ntior this system the first crop is cut before the weevil is well started on it. and immediately after cutting the field is dragged. On soir.e lieids a harrow, must be used in addition to the drag- . ging, in order lo insure tome beuelit to ; ih field. j This method has boon successful in many cars, so far as the second crop is : concerned, for tlie weevil and larvae are prettv well eliminated bv dragging and the dust that it rair-es. l3ut it doi-s not help the first crop, and is a rather expensive undertaking. It is estimated , that brush dragging eo.ViS between Sll i find $. an acre, tie;. ending upon the eon- J ditions encountered. The spraying, winch saves the first crop intact audi permits a norml second crop, costs less tiian a dollar an acre. One farmer in Sevier county who sprays! his own fioli : practicallv paid for his ottit from what I he earned spraying the fields uf ueit:h-bors. ueit:h-bors. Weevil Likes Heat. Heat is the friend uud the enemy a? well of the alfalfa weevil. When the first really warm weather comes in the' spric the weevil belies to lay its eggs in the alfait'a stocks. The egg period ' of the weevil's life usually lats about! two wc':;s. Then co::iei the larvae ttage, v.hen the insect does practically all of its ftcd.ng, and when it is mo.it dangerous to the li-1! This period if usually coincid'T.tai wr.h lh' most vigorous vig-orous growth of the alfalfa plant itself, which likewi.-rt ttfta to $:w with tie coming of warn wra'her. The e:i - t of tr.e uecil on a !id d'-jjnns naturaliy ut on the (realenci ! tae j.-st. If the i :::.: t is pr. eijt in nuniters. its f.H-d:t:g "id uw:e Thin cc -aiuuco th.c growth ot th luld, at-J lue ivraje tar:-s vn the w: he - .,! a ; .p.-arati.'e :nt'Uf :ir; a'.'ove. A v:;t''i,3 ll c-1 i but mgbtiv a r I e t e 1 will L (.: gr w th i h a : damage, a:id v-.A a.'ir-Lt!v ivt a lair cr. p. 1; :s at this p.-r:-i of cat, mum gr,; th, bo:h I r th alfa.fa and the u t"v! 1 .a r : , hi r.i i g has n ? n-ft bvnvi: :al re-u!. At th:.i t-.m.e rav-!::g rav-!::g :'.:! tlf gr-at T ir;;i::--'r ul j .'i:as;ti-i ar: i at I;;.- rar:.e t : : r. c-:r:e in tir:;-' to rra-:t th-- a.:a':"a to a;u a n.T'al e'.H:; f .r th- I-.-st crp and ip'TT... a na'.-:ral .nvh of the .-co:id. The k' i vi ta.s critical rer:-d, w:a-a the ' r r .'- 1 -i 3 'ii'i.o i;.. . s i;c . e- ; .:iiy. are d.:f:cL:.t to fix. br-a- the woa:h"r e)r..!.:ioi.s vary f .-);. n-j.-on to ia-oa. , E..t c:.; erirr.a'.a au i have s:.nwn , fiHt i h h'.fcl.t of cca.es Lsua..v betw-.-j Mav 1 j acd j Juno I'. ' The I.arin an! t'ui-al nam's of th- i we'.il n rr.'.-:.'.!.:?'. j - i -u jju';:. It j f.riKisat- l' j : ab'y :n I'.-'ly, rut th' r; i f a v -a ; It ri'h'T Co;; - r.s ha-, e rc 1 O'l -'-d t: .in : ng ; i.vou to a , ,: gi p'-r.V !: no i f is s; re" d 1 y uul u-r:nt'!y r.r.ou".. tho-.:i 'it -.5 thuughi tl'.a I ;.! b:.e:t'hr r; j th- pTvii:---! r rf '. rac v The . I in--' I'M b.:t -h t.'it r,i:;-r, a:i ( ir;ri'ni'v it r'.:KhtH a:- :v rd. 1 1 ' pr-:..iblf .:vr f -; r n 1 i in th" ;r'''::;'.i ;r.ta:n r-v' .n i th: (,; t;z?-T fr-';n i tn (':-, m tr., .-.ir r.ents f ':. ..-ri it s:. ,s cui- i M" : id" the !irr-ir. !:n v'a.-, ha r'.aced emhar'ors f f varying . r t on t-i. pi;t; .:' T'.'-h a.t'ala. i'.-.t ti-" t-i :;"" m: r.rt r-:j ?h,. --r-a i of the ha h ; . C : dr j r T n 1 A : yr t. e-en i : e . c: a d r ld i" ; a, f !, :t ' :: 1 r' ?o:. ;i hi v r tint, r:-." 1 1. .-.--ta n 1i ult-m'. th! of its iinra':nrj r r - :n 1 r f . . ;i r. ls r.,n,; r a i..-atinn ? 1..'..k- ) f.T bv k,'o-. -rrn i.t rp. rti ui,,- orr.rt t i; 'jl. v r'w n-i-'"(;. vio.;l,i 1 e .'.:.ovr;' i. I'.'it the pia;nj l.r.nt.s. d- I in-.Tc'v the d;nao whi h the ,rrv;l ran d'. nad fvm th. v;.-''i n.t 1;, Vm,; the no;cthr, r-- ia i! -.nw-r of d''ri;--'i..u n I :r " - r fo th" a n ; h : 1. point. Poison Is Smr.ll Kik. The c 0 .in t n wli i- h at V nn p to inf.'h'cJ la.'inde th1' k'r'l',,,i aiiar dn-t dn-t ri'M ot I t a a. a r ! I n s n.i'ir ,i 1 nre.i in n i ; ; r. . 1 . T-. counties mf'-ieii in I'ta'i ar--; .-alt I a--, ( h. li-', I' tali, : n S j.-r, 1 ;trh..n. I '11- chc.-tnr, nsnfc h, urnInlt, .Mi'iran, r.o.v.-i.i. r 111. 1 h'i' li. 'J ln extent uf tho (.e.t 1 11 t lie-.' t 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 r 4 Vnrios r Olisid'T-,iMv, Olisid'T-,iMv, find it is visfrrted that t'hero ;uo nthr Rll'e-'tod tirehk ni the 51 m 1 0 which Un e nut ht'.-n rew.i te 1. Next hprmi; it ii prnhnhU tint n in a it y uf t )' m f.-M . d nil a'.l'a ti- Ids will In- sprayed i.iip way ur 11 nut Iter. 'I here were 5une farmeis thi v.u hu di.l not ..rny l-r.-mse t hev ' tlmu.dit th iT- u 0.1 Id 'l.e danger to t heir niMip from the )mv tf.Tte.i with tlie himmiiiIc of I n.l. s.i far ft. e.vild kiiu.-.l ti'nni th" of faimcM t ; ir t umt',1 , thorn h.-M hern nu reput ot urn- 1aii:il-l tn wIihI iiirvi-r from thu sjiavin save tu tli ueevil. 1 hemsel ves. 'I tie aniiMint 'of 'ui-.uii involved, two ir,und-. to 111) acre, is lie, I, y 1 ho'.. in n po; t tun to I h 11 u v.- to 1 11 . ol e no 1 1 ), w lifi t M'e r ; . I Anuth-T factor which prevented urmv i farmer who drt,jrel in ..j-rav fro.n y' M 1 11 the puisun on t heir tiehh ;if the fhnrtiii;e u f n.ntatde it j ai.'iiu. ,u far there Uns heen no ppecitil o ) 1 j a ra t u s put otj the nwri-.et fur t)n purpM-e, ;uid nil tlin outfits ued thi yenr nre ft d a p I n 1 i n u uf nvnihiMe cpiipmeiit . Spniyin M.iy Pt lTnivcrs;i1. The farmer, the cuitnty farm arntu and the ;iivi'riiiiu'iit experin nru till working tu find the ideui n ppn rn 1 u.;, and il it prol.uldn thnf ),( another pril vihK P-'H """l c-,Miel ( l,r; , , ) us 1' h 1 m 1 ) h e.pnpnn ni tu tnKe nir.- ut' nil w ho t di to m.i a v. 'That t hei e will he til;inv ii unipteM iuiie,1, aiol a the veviiltn ni" further d'Miiuici ; a ! e,J duiin); nnuthor K'H'on it. i- leai.in.'ihlv certain (,.,( the pi a c ee will heceine n nu i vrra il v 11c. tepted filiil u-e,l ji t he Fpl.'ivntt; of lluit Irerr |
