Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-29
FEASTS on PEAS.
Insect Proving Destructive to Crops
in Maryland.

i'm Maryland.
Special CORES pondence Of The Evening Star
MARLBORO. Nd, May -. 1901.
Growers of peas throughout southern
Maryland are much alarmed by the reap
pearance in many localities of what IS
known as the pea louise" Inquiry at the
L. s. Department of Agriculture by the
correspondent of The Star ELECTED the in
formation that the subject has been re-
ceiving careful attention there. and meas
ures to reduce the injurious work Of the
destructive insect to a minimum have been
taken by the officials in charge of the di-
vision of entomology.
In reference to the matter Mr.. F. II.
Chittenden, assistant entomologist, said:
"One of the most destructive and trouble
some insects in recent years is a little
green plant louise, which, from its injuries
to peas, is known as the green-pea louise
Since it first attracted attention by its raw
ages in May of 1899 IL has steadily increased
and has been the cause OF great loss in the
principal pea-growing regions OF this coun-
try, especially where peas are grown for
canning. 1t was. in fact. one Of the most
important OF all insects that rayaged crops
in the United States during the seasons of
1899 and 1890, and there appears TO be little
prospect. unless the unforeseen happens. of
any decrease in its devastations On the
contrary 1t is to be expected that IL will
widen Its range geographically.
This plant louise is one of unusual size
among those found infesting gardens and
the largest of the green species which at
tack the pea and related plants. The
length of the body of winged viviparous
females is about three-sixteenths OF an
inch, and the total wing eXpanse about
four-tenths of an inch. The general color
OF both the winged and the apterous. or
wineless, forms is uniform pea green, the
same color the insects fayorite food
plant.
The first notice of severe attack to pea
that can with positiveness be attributed to
this insect was reported to the Department
of Agriculture in a letter dated May 16.
1899 by Mr.. Thomas Bridges of Bridges,
Va. This was followed within the next
few days by reports from Virginia and
Maryland, and soon afterward injury was
recognized in other states and Canada.
During the previous season, however. this
pest was presentin some numbers In GER
tain fields in Maryland and was noticed on
late peas in New Jersey.
Up to this time the insects have been
Noted by correspondents of the depart
ment in destructive abundance in Nova
Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario. Cam
ada Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts,, Con-
necticut, New York. New Jersey, Pennsyl-
vania, Delaware, Maryland. District of
Columbia Virginia, North Carolina. Michi-
gan, Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin. Injury
to peas in the state last mentioned was not
noticed prior to 1900.
The best remedy that has yet been de-
vised is the growing of peas in rows suffi-
GENTLY wide apart as to admit OF a one
horse cultivator between them. The lice
are brushed from the plants with boughs
Of pine with their leaves on, and a culti-
vator then follows down the rows as soon
afterward as possible. For the perfect
success of this method 1t should be prac-
ticed in the heat of the day, when the
ground is dry and hot. and the repetition
of the brushing is necessary every three
to seven days until the crop is ready for
picking This method has the advantage
of not being so destructive to the natural
enemies as other means that might be en-
pioyed, the louise being more fragile and
delicate than any of its insect enemies