The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-23
KANSAS NEWS.
Prof. Popenoe Does Not Agree
With COburn.
Thinks Hessian Fly Should Be
Pl0wed Under.
HIS LATEST BULLETIN.
Discusses the Pest in All It's
PHASES.
General items Of Interest From
All Over Kansas.
HIS LATEST BULLETIN.


Manhattan, kaS., Aug. Is, lSU1.
During the season past the Hessian
fly has caused some loss and much
comment in parts of the Kansas wheat
belt, and numerous letters of inquiry
reaching the Kansas experiment sta
ton have shown the need of wider pop
uiar information on this subject An
extended account of the insect appears
in chronological bulletin No. 16, of the
| United States department of agrlcul-
ture, which should be consulted by
those interested in full details of life
history For practical purposes how
ever, the methods of preventive pro
cedure are those of widest interest, and
of these IL appears that the most I'M
portant are still the practices recon :
mended by earlier writer's.
Concerning the value of burning the
stubble. and thus destroying the con-
tanned pupae of the fly, opinion is some
what divided. If done at once after
harvesting, especially in fields where
the header was used, this method IS
certainly effective, if practiced by the
neighbOrhood in general But by burn
ing, not only are the pupae of the fly
destroyed but the contained parasites
as well, whose aid is the most import
ant factor, after all in the subjugation
OF the pest. Moreover, the burning CT
the stubble, in the opinion of some
wheat growers. robs the soil Of import
ant physical. if not manurial constitu
ents, which should be incorporated by
pioW1ng under and not destroyed BY
burning. Early plowing of the stubble
ground, as soon as possible after har-
vest, If the ground be compacted after
ward by narrowing or rolling, will serve
the same end with less loss in this re-
spect
Considered in all relations, where one
method alone is followed, it is best, In
the writer's opinion, to depend upon
late sowing. The adult insect flies and
lays eggs accoI ding to season earlier
or later in summer or fall. but cannot
withstand the frost; and wheat appear
ing after the first white frost of the
season Will be free from attack. This
fact Is confirmed by the present years
experience Of CORES Ondents of the
Kansas station. Early sOwn areas, on
the other hand, will sometimes be
found so badly infested through the
massing Of the insects thereon, that the
wintering of the plant viii be matter
of doubt.
If egg deposit be delayed by the alb
sence of suitable plants, the flies will
remain alive for some time in waiting.
but if proper opportunity is provided
the eggs are laid at once and the in
sects then die. Small areas or strips
through fields in infested localities may
be seeded early, as trap crops, and
after egg deposit these may be plowed
under, destroying the contained eggs or
larvae before the general seeding of the
field.
Against the spring brood. which
weakens the stalk and lightens the
grain, little can be done except by
means 10 limit the winter DIOOQ Oh
larvae. The thorough destruction of
volunteer wheat, accompanied by late
seeding, through their reduction of the
numbers of insects wintering over, are
the most practical means
Owing to the situation of the larvae
down in the crown of the plant, there
is little possibility Of valuable results
from pasturing the wheat during fall
and winter. Where fields are pastured
early, chance eggs may be destroyed
before Matching. but the advantage
thus gained will be slight, if any.
1t is the combination of early sown
trap strips with general late seeding
that is recon mended for practice by
Kansas wheat growers.
E. A POPENOE