OCR Text |
Show Control of-the Alfalfa Weevil i - c When tho first crop of alfalfa shows c signs of serious Injury, It should bo t cut nnd removed from tho field as t rnpldly as possible. Then go ovor 1 tho field with a spring tooth harrow t or nlfalfn cultivator, following this treatment with heavy brush drag- i glng. If tho field Is heavily Infested ! with worms, it may pay to eross drag it. This treatment, if proporly carried car-ried out, should loavo tho field with n lino dust mulch ovor tho surfneo and the alfalfa stems bare all of tho leavos bolng torn off them. Several benefits nccruo from this troatmont. Tho ground Is In bettor condition to carry a second crop nnd tho harrowing and dragging has killed kill-ed many of tho larvae nnd tender pupao. Tho larvao that tmrvlvo tho troatmont havo to crawl through Ino dtiBt to roach tho stems, nnd tho few that really got to tho stoms find llttlo upon which to food. A fow hours In tho dust or unprotected on tho stems by Blind o gives tho hot sun an opportunity to kill many of thorn. It Is well not to lrrlgato for ono or two days In order to allow tho sun nnd dust o get tho bos trcsults. Tho second crop will now start quickly and grow prnctlially unmolested by tho wcovll. On land treated by this simple mothod, tho gain has boon from ono nnd n haU to thrco and a half tons por ncro'for tho full two cuttings, a result produced nt nn out-sldo out-sldo coBt of $1.25 por aero. Circular No, 10, Utah Agricultural College. |