The Holly chieftain., 1900-06-15
TnE BEET Array WORM.

cusSed by Clarence p. 6ll
lette, OF the State
Agricultural Col
Iege.
The caterpillar which did 20 much
injury to sugar beets in tho vicinity Of
Grand junction last wear will doubt
leA appear again this summer. While
the Insect has long been known 70 en-
tomoloRists, las* wear was the nsst
that It has ever been reported doing
serious harm to any csup.
While the life habits OF the insect
have never been studied, 1t seems
probable, from what the writer could
learn Of It last summer and fall, that
1t has two broods in the course OF y
year. The caterpillArs that were 20
abundant during August last year en-
tered the ground and then appeared
again as moths In September. There
were few enemies to destroy the cat
erpillsls and the moths hatched In
enormous numbers. These moths,
like house-fiies and mosquitos. seek
every available place OF protection
from winters storm and cold that
they may live thibernate) until spring.
When vegetation starts the moths la
den with eggs, go In search Of beets,
, or other plants furnishing suitable
food, to depnit their eggs and thus
pr0vide for an carly brood Of worms.
II ten per cent Of the fall brood OF
moths survived the winter, there is
serious danger that the beets will fare
J worse this summer than they did last,
! unless growers are earlv on their guard
to make thorough and timely applica-
! tion Of eflectual remedies. Just here
let me warn al against experimenting
with new or patent remedies which
some friend or vendor may think en-
tirely satisfactory. Use such reme-
dies very cautiously and sparingly 1t
Arst, OF do not uaa them q all.
Frun 1aaEc0al1 b asthsInl -
IsUnmer, II seesas that tieio ms q
6rst brood Of cAterplllars atahout the
time for thinning the beetA w1lch. in
some cases, destroyed mest OF the
plants after thinning.
REMEDrEs.
Experiments tried last summer
proved that the common poisons. Par
is green, London purple, and white
arsenic, will destroy the caterpillars
II well distributed upon the beets.
These p0isons may be applied dry or
In water. II the caterpillsrs appear
upon the beets while the latter are
small, believe the best method Of
application Is to mix ono part by
weight Of Paris green or London pur-
pie with. twenty parts Of common
hour, and then dust the mixture over
the plants before sunrise in the morn
ing. In this strength light dusting
will be sufficient. The early spplica-
ti0n Is recommended, because then
the leaves have . slight amount Of
moisture upon them, which helps to
hold the -four and poison. Just after
the leayes are moistened BY shower
IL also good time to make the appll-
cation.
To apply the poison. make small
cheese cloth sack about i've inches In
diameter and ten inches deep. FIJI 1t
with the mixture u poison and flour
and walk along row Of plants shak-
Ing the sack over them. This can be
done quite rapidly when one has learn
ed how and is economical Of poison,
and does not require wheelbarrow or
wagon to carry pump and tank.
When the plnnts become large, as in
case Of treatment for the second
brood, 1t will probably be better to use
barrel or tank and spray pump.
II . spray Is used, apply either Paris
green or London purple In the proper
tion Of pound to 100 gallons Of water
and add two pounds Of fresh lime for
each pound Of poison. The lime
should be slaked ard strained through
. sack to take out the Jumps. Then
use nozzle that throws fine spray,
and do not continue the application
In any place long enough so that the
drops sprayed upon the leaves will run
together and flow Oh, carrying the
,, poison With them.
II white arsenic Is used, prepare ac-
c0rding to the following directions:
Put two pounds Of white arsenic
and eight pounds Of sal soda together
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