Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1897-05-07
Clover-Leaf weevil Being DESTROYED.

1880 SSAA@6 OSeeASy VAs
A dispatch from College Station, Md,
dated May End, says:
The clover-leaf weevil, an insect which
has ruined many hundred acres of clover in
Maryland annually for the past four or five
years, has appeared again in destructive
numbers this spring, and many inquiries
have already been made to State Entomolo-
gist w. G. johnson regarding it, Mr. H.
U Devries, grand master of the State Grange,
writes from Howard county that the pest is
raVenously devouring the clover fields in
his vicinity. He writes to Prof. johnson +:
1.-THE insect is death to clover think your
presence desirable" Mr.. Devries, on re-
quest, forwarded specimens of the worms
to the State entomologist.
Professor johnson in reply says "As an.
ticipated found many of them dead. After
was due to contagious disease, a minute
fungus, common among insects, known to
science as Empusa Entomophthoral sphae-
rosperma. Mr.. Devries was informed that
he need not have any further apprehension
about the safety of his crop, as this epidemic
would soon destroy the pestiferous creatures.
at is well-known fact that insects, in
both the young and adult stages, are often
attacked by minute fungi and destroyed by
the myraids. Foul brood is familiar ex-
ample to beekeepers in this country, and
the silkworm disease which threatened the
speedy destruction of the silk industry in
France few years ago, is still fresh in the
minds of the general public.
"The disease which destroys the larvae or
worms OF the clover-leaf weevil acts in
peculiar way. Worms that are sick or of.
fected with this contagion, crawl up and
attach themselves to, or curl around the
tips of the clover leaves, grass blades, weeds,
stubble and various kinds of plants. They
are fastened to the plants on which they
are found by very small, snowy-white root
lets which are sent out through the lower
surface of the body. This generally takes
place in the forenoon, and the spor es VERY
much like seeds) are formed the light of the
same day in body of the worm. These germs
are rapidly thrown off in great abundance,
falling upon healthy worms, thus rapidly
spreading this fatal contagion. 1t would
take thousand of these spores placed end
to end to make line an inch long. The
disease is carried over winter in the bodies
of other insects.
"rhe same disease has appeared in the
GoI,l a., ~, 10 II
lege and Experiment Station, and is rapidly
destroying the pests. 1t has also begun its
deadly work on larvae in the clover fields
of Montgomery county BY the timely ap
pearance of this natural reducing agent it is
quite probable that the clover crop of Mary
land will be saved at least it will be best
to let nature take her curse in this matter,
and await the outcome"
Teachers Association The Mont
gomery County Teachers Association met
in the Town Hall, Rockville, Friday, April
30, at 10 A. M, Prof. A. G. Harley presiding.
There was large attendance of teachers
and visitors. The singing of patriotic songs
was one OF the pleasing features of the &C.
casion. Messrs. Burdette and Watkins pre-
sided at the organ and piano and Prof. G..
| w. Walker led the singing
Messrs V. d. Watkins and j. l.. Burdette
were elected delegates to the State Teachers
Association to be held at the Blue Mountain
House in July.
A committee of three was appointed to
draft suitable resolutions on the death of
Charles G. Petty, the same to be published
in the county papers.
The following program was rendered:
Music, "My Maryland" allow to teach
music in public Schools" by Prof. G.. w.
Walker; "The basis of promotion papers,"
G. W. Duderar; allow to teach arithmetic
in 3rd and 4th grades, Misses Ida Dove and
Mollie Green. The subjects were well
handled and much instruction given
Music, "Hail Columbia"
Mr.. G. d. Luckelt, Secretary to School
Board, announced the closing OF the schools
on June 1st and paid the teachers in full
for Spring term.
AGNES j. MATLACK,
Secretary.