Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-02-21

CD we do not know whether they can
stand our winter, ~ we do not know
werher their parasites can stand our
inter. (3)we do not know what the
charActe Of this wintr and spring
will be. 1t they are able to stand the
winter, and both they and their para
sites have done so thus far, and ale
favored by late, cold spring, or if
all the parasites should be destroyed
by the cold, they will probably in
crease and become a most serious
menace to wheat and oats. Inasmuch
as thev usually pass the winter in our
latitude IN the egg stage, it is unlikely
that they will be able to stand the
cold of our climate: yet they may sur
vive. and if they do we shall have to
face the problem Of controlling them
Also, we must remember that, con
trary to previous knowledge, the iu-
SectS wintered last year in the wheat
fields Of Oklahoma, and possibly in
SOne cases in southern Kansas, and
that are undoubtedly Try ing to do the
same thing this year in the wheal fields
of northeastern Kansas, The provi
dot man makes provision against
poSsib loss, and We can not afford
to do less. We owe it 10 ourselves to
take such steps and make such prep
GRAFTON as our present knowledge
shows to be necessary to control any
outbreak that may occur.
A study of last years experience,
with knowledge of the present status
of the green bug, points clearly to
certain measures that may be taken
to prevent an outbreak. These spots
where the green bugs are killing out
the wheat, and where winged forms
are being constantly produced, are
simply centers of contagion from
which the bugs 60 to other parts of
the same field and to other fields.
The fact that such spots bear the
overwintering parasites in the swollen
and blackened bodies of their victims
should not deter US from treating
them, for it is an easy matter to 90
over a small area and pick off the
stalks that beai these blackened seed
like bodies, because at a touch the
living green bug will fall to the ground
while the dead ones, being fixed to
the stalk will remain. This parasitic.
ed material should be gathered and
strewn in other parts of the field or
stored elsewhere for future reference
and the bug infested wheat be turned
under deeply with a pillow, the soil
being narrowed down smoothly and
rolled so that none of the bugs can
ever reach the surface. The other
measure lies in the preservation, &C
emulation and multiplication of the
green bugs enemies so that in case
the parasite fails to live over and the
green bug appears where there are
no parasite enemies, we can introduce
this friend and give tia chance to
show wether it can destroy the lice
for US. The Experiment Station is
watching these matters closely and
every possible preparation to
prevent serious damage from the
green bug next year. The Experiment
Station, however, needs the aid and
cooperation of the people in all parts
of the State in finding out where the
green bugs appear, send by mail to
the Station Entomologist, T. J. Head.
lee, Manhattan, Kansas, specimens
of bug infested wheat or oats enclos.
ed in tight tin box orcan, as we'll as
a description of the way they work.
Investigation and recommendations as
to me thcd of rocedure in the par.
ticular case will follow in the shortest
time possible. By cooperation and
understanding we hope to
prevent any outbreak of green bugs
next spring and GUNNER. T !, Head.
lee. Entomologist. Manhattan, Kans.
j. c. Hill was at Ellinwood
Monday.
Will Ewalt visited at Hutchin-
son sunday.