Show WHITE GRUBS IN 1915 among the most serious pests to farm crops conservable Conserva tle estimate of damage to corn timothy and potatoes placed at over in three infested states GJ DAYIS the common white grubs or grub worms as they are often called have for years been recognized as among the most serious pests to farm crops notably corn and timothy while strawberries potatoes and nursery plantings have all been frequently and seriously affected probably the most serious outbreak of white grubs oc cured in 1912 following an abundance of beetles in 1911 in the worst infest ed districts it was not unusual to find from 40 to 60 grubs in a single hill of corn indeed in a corn field in iowa devoted to timothy in 1911 the writer found 77 grubs in an area 2 feet square and five inches deep this really represented less than a single hill of corn for the hills in this field were 34 feet apart from a personal survey of the infested territory made in 1912 in three states as well as from reports of farmers and others we have a very conservative estimate of the damage to corn timothy and potatoes in these states aggregating not less than 7 available records show that may beetles were numerous in 1914 hence we may be reasonably walta grub working in potato certain that in 1915 the grubs will again be destructive and exceedingly abundant unless their numbers are materially reduced by natural enemies by artificial means or by ad verse climatic conditions white grubs and may beetles are preyed upon by numerous birds mammals and insects all of which are useful in reducing their numbers the most important of these enemies are the birds especially crows and crow blackbirds domestic fowls may properly be classed as natural enemies of white grubs all farm poultry are fond of these insects and where possible should be given the run of infested fields at plowing time TUP keys are especially valuable jn athla capacity among the mammals which feed on abo grubs the skunk is most valuable and indeed some farmers attribute the increase in these insects to the decrease in numbers tf skunks which are being killed off by trappers an infested field may be cleared of grubs by pasturing it with hogs which are fond of the insects and will root to depth of a foot or more in search of them where Is Is impracticable to pasture boga in an infested field much good can be accomplished by tall plowing the plowing should be done late but should not be delayed until the ground becomes chilly and frosty tor then the grubs will have gone down beyond tha reach of the plow since the beetles usually deposit their eggs in fields of grass timothy and small grains the crops planted in these fields the year following a A corn field ruined by white glubt season of beetle abundance should be those which are least susceptible to grub injury such as buckwheat clover alfalfa and peas care should always bo exercised in the selection of a crop to follow sod or old timothy ground where bogs can be pastured on the land the fall or spring previous to planting the grubs will be practically |