The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1907-08-01
WIRE WORMS IN THE GARDEN.

WIRE WORMS IN The GARDEN.
Under date of June Goth Mr.. Franz
Borzone, of Seattle, wrote the editor
of The Ranch as follows:
ct have a field of about three acres
infected with wire worms for the las
three years or more, since first plant
ing crop Of potatoes. In a patch Of
300 tomato plants probably a dozer
of them are left since first setting out
The rest had to be reset time and time
again. Is there anything that can be
done to prevent this ravage for the
present and future crops?"
Then again under date of July &c
Mr.. Borzone wrote as follows:
Since writing you I learn from one
of my neighbors that his orchard was
full of wire worms after a crop oil
potatoes, and that he broadcasted
about three sacks of rock salt to the
acre, and never saw one worm since
Subsequently his orchard was sowed
in clover. So far so good. But will
rock salt injure extent of future diver
sif1ed' crops, such as cabbages, onions
tomatoes, etc.,"
In giving reply to Mr.. Borzone's
query we wish to impress upon him
the fact that the wire worm is three
year fellow, and the best way to fix
him is to rotate the land to clover
and to other crops that have little in
ducement for him. Poisoned potatoes
set by the plants would also be effec
tive set near the surface. This treat
ment would be especially valuable fol-
the tomato patch. If poisoned potatoes
or any other poisoned preparation fol-
that matter be used extreme care must
be taken that fowls, pigs, calves, etc.
do not have access to the ground while
the poisoned stuff is there.
Concerning the use Of salt to de.
stroy the wire worm and as to the
effect Of salt on the land, Mr.. J. F.
Littooy says such treatment would nc
doubt be of value, but few farmers
would use it with sufficient intelligence
to make it's extended use safe. Mr.
H. L. Blanchard says: 1--WE know OF
no serious objection to the use of salt
as stated. When obtainable, however,
we would recommend the use of a pc.
tato commercial fertilizer, which not
only disposes of the wire worms but
is otherwise beneficial to the soil and
the crop, as well as subsequent crops
Prof. E. e. Elliott, of the state col
lege, goes into detail and gives our
correspondent some valuable informa-
ton, as follows:
The wire worm which is affecting
the crop of this correspondent is very
difficult to control, except in the case
of ground which has been thoroughly
cultivated during the preceding sea-
son. 1t is generally conceded that
this worm can be kept in control If
the ground has been fall plOwed, and
exposed to the freezing and thawing
of the winter. We have great many
complaints from different parts of the
state, and on inquiry, we find that
most of them are traceable to land
that has been freshly plowed in the
spring and placed in some crop. This
is not always the case, as this year
there are more complaints than usual,
and I think it is due to the fact that
the winter of 1867 was marked by
the absence of freezing weather. 1t
is claimed that a treatment Of seed
corn, for instance, with lime, some
times has the effect of preventing the
ravages of the wire worms. It is pos
sible that the application of lime in
the hill might have a beneficial effect.
l doubt if any injury would result
from the use of rock salt, as is men
toned by your correspondent. The
effect of the salt could not be injurious
unless it was used in large quantities,
as salt is very soluble, and there
would be little trace of it discoverable
the next spring. For the information
of your correspondent, am enclosing
a copy of bulletin published some
years ago on this subject. 1t is hard
ly up to date, at present, but may
throw some light on the question.