The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-10-09
Farm Pests that Require Foresight
for Their Control.


siblc with the insect pests that men
ace the agricultural crops Of South
Carolina. IT is the aim Of this Of
flee to be as useful as possible to The
farmers, truck growers and fruit
growers all over the State. We
arc aware that the losses occasioncd
by insect pests are enormous every
year. In order to prevent such losses
it is necessary for this Division and
the citizens Of the State, especially
the agricultural workers, to come as
rs near together, and work as closely
in harmony as possible.
In the regular correspondence with
farmers a large number Of letters
contain complaints about serious in
jurics caused by wire worms and
white grubs. These two problems
confront the farmer every spring and
summer. As there IS no specific that
can be rccommrndcd against these
pests We must depend on general
methods Of farm practice. A good
system Of farm practice is infinite
~ better than all The sprays and
noStruTnS 50 often recommended.
While the farmer thinks ahead and
plans his course Of procedure for the
purpose OF maintaining soil fertility
or rcgainin" it when lost, he rarely
asks himself the question, What
course must | pursue to avoid insect
injury to the crop am intending to
plant. The complaints about in
furious insects reach us when the in
jury is actually being done and when
often no practicable remedy or pre-
vcntativc can be recommended.
In order that this Division may be
in the best possible position to help
the farmers Of the State to solve this
and other insect problems it is nee
cssary that the cntomologist be kept
informed as to the farm operations
on individual farms. In order to bring
this about every farmer and every
citizen of South Carolina who grows
plants Of any kind Is invited to be-
come correspondent of this Divis-
''''' ''N''.' hi'l - INV lt't ~ Ittti
this aricl" and comply with the re-
quest Of this Division. and we have no
doubt that we can be Of material ser
vice to such correspondents during
next season in hclpin" them to avoid
losses 10 their crops caused by in
ScctS or other animals.
Write to this Division saving that
yon wish 10 belong to the special
group of correspondents We will
then s"nl You blanks rcqucStin" ynn
I" draw Il sketch of Your farm orch
ard or plantation. showing what crops
are now growing and where You in
tend 10 plant the next crop. We will
also send Il blank circular containing
questions which we want vou to an
Swcr and Il circular explaining our
purposes. Only one farm sketch is
necessary and this will be carefully
ilcd at this Office. On the blanks sent
N"u "" expect Ia receive Il report of
the condition Of your crops once each
month. When such report reaches
this Office it will receive careful at
tentiun. Your farm sketch will then
be referred to and in this way we
know what You are doing at given
time and what You intend to do. 1t
Will enable us I" warn vou at the pro-
per time against certain farm opera
tlonS Chat Will encourage insect pests
and nj the end of the season we are
IN position to recommend what could
best he done in order to eradicate
Whltr GrnhS. wire worms. cut worms,
chlnrh bugs. corn hill bugs. corn ear
worms, cotton boil worms and other
pests. In the ease Of Farmers not
taking advantage Of this and writing
to us another spring regardless these
pests. we will he obliged to state that
we are at a great disadvantage in
recommending anything that is Of i'm.
mediate practical value. To max,
these monthly reports requires ,;'t,c
tlmc on your part and the cost nf
sending twelve such reports a year
is twcnty-four cents.
These monthly suggestions will be
supplemented by newspaper articles
and Experiment Station bulletins
which will be sent 10 all correspond
cntS promptly when issued.
Many insects can generally be con-
trollcd by some method at any time
when they occur in destructive num-