Show EMERGENCY CONTROL METHODS FOR WEEVIL IN ALFALFA FIELDS by W W owens U S A C extension service editors note this la Is the fifth of a series of seven articles prepared by mr air owens tor for this paper on weevil control dusting or spraying with calcium arsenate Is the best emergency method of control when weevils have becomer become so numerous that they are checking the growth ot of the alfalfa arsenic poison bhicks on the growing plant in largo enough qualities to kill the worms when they baart to eat i the leaves and buds orchard spray machines may be used to spray the alfalfa they should be able to maintain a minimum of 75 pounds pressure A boom attachment can be made from one halt half inch iron pipe nozzles should bo be selected which will give a misty spray two pounds of 0 calcium arsenate should be used tor for each gallons ot of water and this mixture applied at the rato rate ot of gallons per acre care should be taken to avoid spraying any part of the field several times one spraying will kill the weevil and does not make the hay harmful to livestock if a machine Is to bo be purchased especially tor for weevil control a dusting machine rather than a sprayer should be considered A power duster capable of covering eight acre per hour can be purchased tor for about for many utah farms ft a hand duster will suffice such a machine capable of dusting one acre per hour can be purchased Bod tor fort about 15 calcium so finely powdered that no grit can be felt bo be tween the fingers should be applied at the rate ot of 2 a pounds per acre in dusting preferably mixed with an equal quantity of dusting where dusting or spraying is not possible alfalfa which Is standing still or even going back because of excessive weevil damage should be cut and removed from the lold field as aa quickly as possible the ground should then be thoroughly stirred with a spring tooth to be followed by a wire drag made by putting net wire or barb wire under the backward tilted teeth of a harrow leave the soil in this dusty mulched condition tor for two days day and then irrigate due to the increased labor expense the loss of hay and the difficulty of securing irrigation water at the proper time the dragging method of 0 weevil control Is only recommended as a last resort As a precaution in areas where Is probable this year every farmer should find out where he can got get a machine on short notice |