The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-05-19
RAvAens OF THE PEA LOUISE.
Important Bulletin Issued by Prof
johnson, of Agricultural College.

COLLEGE PARK, Nd, May 13.-State
Entomologist johnson estimates that nearly
two million of the insects will spring from
one mother pea louise within four weeks if
they are allowed to breed unchecked, and
will quickly destroy the crop. He has
just issued bulletin, in which he gives
some interesting facts concerning the louise
and the destruction wrought by it. Among
other things, he says: SAT present you
may see only louse here and there, but
you must consider what that will mean
three or four weeks later. The death Of
one of these mother insects is the equiva-
lent of 1,777, 4SO four weeks later. II
you do not believe this, figure it out, al
lowing twelve days from birth to maturity
for each young produced. 1t is this enor-
nous rate of reproduction that is SO fatal
about the time the pea crop is mature.
Bear in mind, then, at all times, and i'm
press upon your employees the necessity of
destroying these stem mothers.
"The conditions for the safety Of the
pea crop have very much improved during
the last week; the recent rain has stimu-
lated the plant, and growth is vigorous.
Early peas are just coming into bloom.
The lice are more abundant than last
week. They have bred rapidly, and spread
over wide area. Crimson clover is just
coming into bloom, and we infer that the
lice in most cases when the clover is grow
ing have left it and concentrated on the
pea fields. We found lice most abundant
in fields adjoining clover.
Mature is doing her part, and now il
the farmer will supplement this good ser
vice by doing his part, we can secure a
crop of peas in spite of the lice, but the
grower must not sit down and fold his arms,
believing that nature is going to save him
from the deadly hordes of lice. We have
Just two weeks left, in this state, to save
the pea crop. From present conditions
the packers will begin about June 1, and
if the growers bestir themselves the lice can
be kept from doing serious damage to the
crop.
''Where the peas are planted in rows
we can combat the pest to the best advan-
age. The cultivator and brush system il
working like charm, and there will be nc
excuse for the loss of field of peas where
this method is adopted and faithfully
carried out We were in the fields Of A.
G. Salisbury and brother, of Ridgely,
Md, where this method was given prac-
teal test. The peas were in rows thirty
inches apart, and about ten to twelve
inches in height. There had been clover
on practically three sides of the field, which
had just been plowed down for corn. The
lice we're abundant and the stem mothers,
with clusters of young about them, were
found in nearly every terminal point. A
small boy with white pine brush, cut il
an adjoining wood, went ahead Of the cul
tivator, lightly brushing the row back
wards and forwards. Thousands of in.
sects were knocked upon the ground ant
covered up, never to reappear. Va
watched the lice when they were knocked
in the adjoining rows, and practically mont
of them crawled back to the plants before
the cultivator returned
"One man ought to cultivate four to five
acres day, the only additional expens'
being twelve or fifteen cents per acre, thu
amount paid the boy Brush the vine
lightly with regular, uniform sweep; bu
do not beat them. Cultivate and brusl
every three or four days.
''If the peas are drilled use the weede
as much as possible. As last resor
spray with a ten per cent. solution of kero
senc and water