Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-05-02
WHEAT LOUISE DANGER.
Oklahoma Crop Threatened and Pest
Trailing NorthWard.

Oklahoma Crop Threatened and Pest
Trailing Northward.
Guthrie, Okla, April 2S.-The dan
ger to the Oklahoma wheat crop from
the green louise, that has appeared in
indescribable numbers, is alarming.
The louise has been steadily trailing
northward for about two weeks and
has reached the Kansas line. In
some of the large fields of southern
Kay county the louise was not observed
until four DAYS ago. The report of
the United States crop bureau at Okla
homa City for the week ending last
Monday showed that the louise was
| confined mostly to that part of Okla
hOma east of the Chicago, Rock Isl
and Pacific railroad to the Indiana
territory line, but it is probable that
the louise has spread further west
since this report was compiled. In the
| rich wheat district surrounding Ell
Reno the louise has been at work for
several weeks Many fields have been
practically destroyed. Henry Lassen,
an Ell Reno miller, said yesterday
that generally the fields were in condi-
ton to give hopeful outlook, but I'M
less there was a change for the better
III three or four days the crop would
| be seriously damaged. G. H. Stevens,
representing the Purcell Mill and Ele-
vator company, has been travelling in
| Oklahoma for more than week, eX
aiming fields. His report is discOurag
| ing, but he said it was too early to say
positively that the crop would be
ruined. The only thing that can save
it, however, would be the disappear
ance of the louise. In the neighbor
| hood of Cashion, Kingfsher county,
the louise is disappearing, but the small
blacky into which the louise develops,
may remain. There are many fields
injured only in spots, where the louise
| seems to have settled temporarily in
it's northward migration. A week
ago the louise was discovered in a field
near Guthrie, in which the wheat was
knee high. Today the field is practi
cally ruined and in spots burns almost
as easily as dry pasture.
| In an immense field in the strip
country the louise was not seen until
five days ago. There are now dead
spots of many acres in this field. The
owners takes a gloomy view of the
situation, and fears that the louise will
| destroy not only the wheat, but the
corn. Now he is transplanting ne Y
corn to see whether the louise will at
tack the corn. Late hard wheat IS
scarcely molested by the louise, early
soft wheat being it's favorite food.
The louise does net feed upon weeds.
| In some strip fields the Hessian fly
and chinch bugs have appeared with
the louise. Cold whether seemingly
had no injurious effect upon the louise.
They fell to the ground but did not
| die. Many farmers were deceived in
to believing that the louSe was dying
| by finding what seemed to be millions
of their dead bodies.
Mr.. Stevens of Purcell said that
close examination showed that what
were taken for dead lice were only
their empty shells which they had
shed when they Matched into flies.
The louise has not been identified In
name Old wheat growers say that
this is the first time they ever saw 1t.
The lCuse is green in color and re-
sembles the louise that infests rose
plants.