Show The Alfalfa Weevil Has Has I at Last Be Been Conquered I I The Tue alfalfa weevil Is conquered The pest which for the last eight years has diminished almost b by half the alfalfa yield in all parts of the state state affected can be overcome For Forthe Forthe Forthe the first time in these years the farmers and stockmen can look forward forward forward for for- ward to their normal crops with as assurance as- as I y ySo So much has been made sure by bythe bythe bythe I the experiments conducted this year ear I for the first time on a considerable scale which show that spraying the fields will minimize damage by weevils weevils weevils wee wee- vils on the first cuttings of the hay hayand hayand hayand and eliminate it entirely IY from the second second sec see ond mid and third It woud perhaps be going too far farto farto farto to state that the days of the weevil are are ended for once and all but it is not exaggerating in the thel least to say that the powers of the pest for evil I have been checked where the spraying spraying spray spray- ing lag method shown this year has been used and that the farmers who follow the lead of or the vanguard next year can wip off from the books of their apprehensions thoughts of a failure of crops due to the alfalfa weevil Pest Is Pernicious I The rhe weevil made Jt its ita appearance In Inthe Ithe i ithe the state eight years ago on an alfalfa f fa field near Salt Lake Since then its spread has been steady until now the pest has been discovered In all the important alfalfa districts In In i Utah of Idaho I counties J somewhat in Wyoming Colorado and i Oregon j The progress of or the insect has been marked with dire results to the alfalfa j fa crops A consideration which marks this particular crop pest as probably the most pernicious one Inthe in inthe inthe the state is the close relation of ot the alfalfa Industry to all other phases of agricultural endeavor In the sections affected Without alfalfa with which to feed 1 I their stock the cattle men cannot show a profit The same holds true lof of the dairying industry Stock dal- dal rles ries and hay are Irrevocably linked in Jin the chain of or farming and the weakening or breaking of probably the most important of the three links I spells ruin for the the- farmer Alfalfa Kin i The alfalfa crop constitutes s approximately approximately approximately ap ap- ap- ap I proximately 8 per cent of the total forage produced In Utah The hay haycrop crop is s outranked In value of or agricultural agricultural I tural turn products of the state only by the cattle which it Il feeds A romance I could be written about this forage I which would rival the histories of or I princes for alfalfa has been heen king Inmany in I many places an and has traveled far to j I conditions condi- condi find in this western country ideal for its best development and production provided the weevil tan can be checked That it can be and undoubtedly I will vIII be was demonstrated last week to the two men who have had most to do with the experiments leading to the solution now at hand Early in I the week George I. I Reves entomological ical heal assistant in the bureau of or entomology entomology en- en of the department of agricultural agricultural agricultural agri- agri cultural to use his full title J. J Edward Edward Ed Ed- ward Taylor Talor special field agent for forthe forthe the bureau and a reporter for The Tribune made a tour of the principal fields where experiments in spraying were carried on this spring and early among the alfalfa fields Approximately acres were treated with the spraying process in Utah Juab Carbon Sanpete and Sevier Sevier Sevier Se- Se vier counties Without a single exception exception exception ex ex- ex- ex every acre sprayed demonstrated demonstrated demonstrated demon demon- visibly the results of the treatment They demonstrated ed in the clearest most tangible way possible that of putting hay In the farmers farmers' barns There is nothing Which appeals so 80 much to the farmer fanner farier in the way of demonstration as actually actu actu- ally lally adding bushels or tons or orsome I some some other actual measurable quantities quantities quan quan- titles to his crop yield That is exactly exactly ex ex- ex- ex the way in which the spraying demonstrated to those who used It the tho protection it affords for alfalfa fields against the weevil Investigation is Extensive The party saw field after field farmer after farmer There was not clearly shown and a farmer who tried the method who wasn't delight delight- ed The reporter was no farmer and pretended to no knowledge of agriculture ag- ag I He made the trip simply I Ito to observe the actual facts of the sit sit- Hay is the barn is a fact The opinions lions ions of the farmers who made the 1 trials rials are worthy of consideration Their Ther conclusions build up a testimony testimony testimony mony that Is Irrefutable as evidence of the success of the method outlined for combating the alfalfa weevil Even the amateur once shown a weevil-Infested weevil field with its Hs parched appearance can tell teli ell without trouble or danger of ot misapprehension misapprehension misapprehension the difference between such a crop and a field of rich green green where the alfalfa is la In full leaf The ridden pest field shows unmistakably the effects of the eating which the I weevil in both the larva and adult I states has done The individual leaf I looks to the layman like a minature piece of much faded green cloth rid rid- dIed and frayed with moth holes rid rid-I The field as a whole looks almost white when the tho feeding of the pest has been at all heavy and even from froma a distance it can ba ha seen Been that the I plants are nearly leafless and the hay which should be bo of ot a luxuriant growth Is meagre and frayed This condition is true of the first Continued on Page Three ALFALFA WEEVIL Continued from Page Ono On crop before cutting As for the second second second sec sec- ond crop it is rather an alteration of conditions than a material change of at nature Crop Is Big DIg Asset Vh When n the weevil wee is left leCt unmolested ed to feed as it will on the field after the first crop is cut the second crop never gets SPot a start As soon as the first green shoots begin to appear the I Insert Is a at t work and the farmer might as well turn his field to pasture pasture pas pas- ture for his hi chances for a return are practically nil nU Some Indication of tho the Importance of the alfalfa crop Is gained by the statistics which show that there were acres of farm land devoted devoted devoted de de- voted to alfalfa in 1915 and the crop from this territory was tons valued at In 1916 there were acres In the state devoted to alfalfa The yield that year was tons valued at The money value of the crop does not Indicate its full economic importance importance importance import import- ance to the agriculturists of Utah and the surrounding states The questIon question question quest- quest Ion of the stock stacIe to be fed with the forage crops is inseparable from the hay itself With inadequate forage the farmers lose money not only through the crop failure but from their Inability to feed their cattle adequately during the months when they cannot be on the range Slow to Feel Effects If It the dairy farmers farmer's crop of alfalfa fails falls he must by the hay from some more fortunate neighbor with which to feed his herds And when the farmers meet with ard and times the other other other oth oth- er elements of the community share in th the general misfortune The case of at the weevil first brought to attention In 1905 was wasat wasat wasat at the outset regarded as probably a passing blight Persons were slow to see that its powers of destruction were practically unlimited The spread of the pest was slow In the first years Gradually however as the number of the Insects multiplied and an Increasing ever-Increasing number of at began to be affected the federal authorities were called upon for help Eight ago Mr Reeves was as assigned assigned assigned as- as signed to the work of finding a a method of combating the weevil He came tp Salt Lake and Immediately set about a study of the weevil and Its depredations It was a slow process process process pro pro- cess because the bug does its damage damage damage dam dam- age during but one short period of ot each year rear It was necessary to study the weevil closely to learn Its habits of life Ute its eating Its growth and mul- mul to learn how It Is spread in fact to work out the to its most minute detail before practical practical practical experiments be en First Attempts Practice fields limited In area were used for the first years of the investigation On these were tried many experiments of methods to overcome the destructive powers of the beetle for beetle it Is really In 1917 Mr Reeves and his assistants were prepared to inaugurate their final experiments which they expected expected expected ex ex- to provide proof that they had found a method of adequately combating combating combating com com- bating the pest But it so happened that In 1917 the weather conditions themselves obviated the necessity for any weevil anti efforts The spring and early summer of at 1917 were too mild to permit the growth of at the weevils and at the same time were not cold enough to hinder the of the plants with the result that hat the tho weevil Infect ed fields gave their first normal crops since their int Infestation A year ago the war made It Impossible Impossible impossible sible to secure the proper poisons and again the experiments on a large scale had to be postponed But this spring with the cessation of hostilities hostilities hostilities ties and approximately normal condItions conditions conditions con con- prevailing Mr Reeves and Mr Taylor had an opportunity to tryout try tryout tryout out their spraying method on a considerable cono con- con o scale Taylor Is Missionary Mr Taylor was the missionary amo among g tl ti farmers He went to them held mec me mec tS s s lectured talked and persuaded u r. to make the ment The Tho farmers farmers were most of them losing money on their alfalfa as it was and were willing to try anything which promised the possibility possibility possibility of at relief from the devastations of the weevil The method of spraying used this spring is this Two pounds of powdered arsenate of lead to the hundred gallons I of sprayed over every acre of ot 1 water are the alfalfa field Tho The apparatus used varied from tho least expensive homemade homemade homemade home home- made contrivance to a horse forty power engine and many automatic devices All that is necessary Is to have a tank or barrels to contain the liquid an engine to drive the pump to distribute tho the fluid and a s pump nozzles or other means of ot providing is a a. spray spraT to spread the liquid on the theL f geld L I 17 t l l In a great many instances fruit fruit- truit-I truit spraying outfits were used with success success suc sue cess though these are not ideally adapted to tho the field spraying The fruit outfits are usually lly equipped to give a higher pressure than is necessary necessary necessary sary on the field In addition the arsenate arsenate ar- ar senate of ot lead remains in suspension in tho tanks for tor it is not soluble in water and must be constantly agitated ed to keep it at the proper mixture Other Methods Used There had been another method used to combat the weevil prior to this year and one that was used much during tho the present season That ThatIs Is the dragging brush of the fields after atter the first cutting Under this system the first crop is cut before the weevil is well started on it and immediately immediately immediately im im- im- im mediately after cutting the field is dragged On some fields a harrow must be used in addition to the dragging drag drag- sing ging Ing In order to Insure some somo benefit boneSt to to the field l 1 This method has been successful In in n many cases so far tar as the second crop crop is concerned for tor tho the weevil and larvae are pretty prelly well eliminated by dragging and tho the dust that it raises But it ft does not help the first crop and is a rather expensive ing It Is estimated that brush dragging costs between 3 3 and 5 5 an acre depending upon the conditions encountered Tho The spraying spraying spraying spray spray- ing which saves eaves the first crop intact In Intact Intact In- In tact and permits a normal second crop costs less than a dollar an acre Ono One farmer In Sevier county who sprayed his own field practically paid for tor his outfit from what he earned spraying praying the fields of neighbors Weevil Likes Heat Hent Heat Hont is the friend and the enemy as well of the alfalfa weevil When the ithe first really warm weather comes cornea in tho the spring the weevil begins to lay Its its eggs in the alfalfa stocks The egg period of the weevils weevil's life usually usual usual- ly lasts about two weeks Then comes comes the larvae stage when the Insect Insect in insect In- In sect does all of ot its feeding and when It is most dangerous to the fields This period Is usually coincidental coin coln- coincidental I with the most vigorous I growth of the alfalfa plant itself which likewise began to grow with the coming of ot warm weather The I I effect of the weevil on a field depends naturally upon the prevalence of tho the I pest If It tho the Insect Is present in num num- bers Its feeding will more than coun- coun the growth of the tho field and the forage the withered appearance mentioned above A rigorous vigOrous vig- vig Orous field but slightly affected will show more growth than damage and will apparently give a fair tair crop I It Is at this period of maximum I growth both for the alfalfa and the weevil larvae lar ae that spraying has its most beneficial results At this time spraying will kill the tho greatest number number number num num- ber of ot parasites and at the same time come in time to permit the alfalfa to gain a normal stand for tor the first crop and permit a natural growth of ot the second The dates of at this critical period when the spraying is done most sue sue- c are difficult to fir fix because the weather conditions vary from season to season But experiments and study have shown that the height of ot the weevil season comes usually between May 15 and June 15 The Latin and technical n name mo of the weevil is l gull It originated probably in Italy but there favorable weather conditions condi condl- have reduced its ita damaging powers to a negligible point Tho The I II I r 7 J Lw Ii method of its spread is not definitely known though it is thought that it was brought here in the personal effects of immigrants The Insect has haa but but short flight range nC and nna apparently apparent apparent- i ly its flights are by hazard The most probable t theory of at its spread in the Intermountain region Is that of transfer transfer transfer trans trans- fer from place to place in the garments garments garments gar gar- ments of travelers or in shipments containing alfalfa Most of the surrounding states have placed embargoes of at varying sorts on the shipping of Utah alfalfa But the effect of at these cm cargoes on the tho spread of the tho pest has been slight Under tinder present conditions even if It every every every ev ev- ery affected field is sprayed it seems reasonably sure that the pest is certain certain certain tain to increase the area of ot its operations operations operations oper oper- from year to year Its complete complete com- com eradication is not not looked for by bythe bythe bythe the government experts unless some radically new methods should be d din dis covered But the tho spraying limits lImit s definitely definitely def def- the damage which the weevil can do and even though not eradicating ing the tho |