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Show KEEP THE WEEVIL OUT 0FC0UNTY To control the alfalfa weevil is not as hard as one would think, and every farmer interested -in the welfare wel-fare of this state should avail himself him-self of the opportunity to keep his land free of this insect. The life history of the weevil is not understood by some, so I shah give a short story of its life. The adult lives over the winter in the crowns of the alfalfa plant just below be-low the surface. In the spring, when the weather gets warm it comes out and as soon as there are any young alfalfa shoots for it to lay its eggs on it does so and dies. The eggs hatch out. and the young larva feed on the young succulent shoots, later if passes in to the ground where transformotion takes place in its life and it comes out from this place P9 a full grown weevil. This full frown weevil does not do any damage dam-age to the crop. Remember that it is the weevil in the larval stage that is harmful. Spraying is one of the most beneficial bene-ficial ways to control this insect, where there are no sheep to bo had to pasture down the first cutting. The sheep will eat the eggs but will not eat the adult. By grazing the land rather closely with the sheep they will get down close to the crown and there will be no chance for the weevil to lay its eggs as they will only lay their eggs on green foods. Also, if the crop is cut close w-'th the aid of the sheep there is no "lnnce for the eggs to hatch before they are eaten. Every farmer that has the interest of the state at heart, who in looking to the increased price of the land and farms, should interest inter-est himself in keeping the pest out of thij valley. There are several comraerciar sprays which can be applied. These sprays are of arsenical origin and cost at the rate of one dollar per acre. ac-re. The labor must be added to this, making the cost relatively high. By the use of the sheep we can save all that and give the sheep (a very fine start in the spring before they go to the mountain pastures. Thir.k this vr-evil proposition over and see if we cannot keep Milford vally free of this troublesome foreigner from the Mediterranean countries. GEORGE KXUTSOX Agriculturist, U. P. System. a. |