Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-06-03
LIBRARIANS COLUMN
Edited by Geo. H. Taylor,
City Ii ibrarian. Il i
Continued from Last Week

The next matter of interest comes
to The Library rather late to be of
any value through this channel, but
| understand that the A. B. S. Co.
has been active in the distribution
of the same matter direct to the
farmers of the vicinity during the
winter months, which was the time
to 1T on the advice given. The
local Chamber Of Commerce has also
been active in spreading the informa-
ton, the preparation of which is the
work of Mr.. H.. o. Marsh. Govern
ment Entomologist, located at Rocky
Ford. Mr.. Marsh has been with us
most OF the time for year or more,
| assigned by the government to the
work of combating insects injurious
to Our beets, melons and alfalfa.
| Writing under date of last autumn,
Mr.. Marsh says:
During the recent summer and
fall, woolly caterpillars (hairy
worms) varying in color from yell
lowish white to nearly red, were very
| abundant and destructive to sugar
beets and other crops in the upper
Arkansas valley.
| The parent of these caterpillars is
a medium sized, snow-white moth,
known scientifically as Spilosoma
Virginica Fab. The moths, which
are entirely different from the yellow
butterflies which were SO common
last summer over alfalfa, are very
sluggish and do not fly, like the web
worm moths, when disturbed, but re-
main clinging to the under surface
of the leaves and thus generally es-
cape notice. Each female is able to
lay a large number of eggs. The
eggs are light green and are placed
in clusters, often as large as a silver
quarter on the under side of the
leaves of many weeds, rhubarb, beets
or other plants.
There are two broods of the cat
erpillars each year, but usually they
occur in comparatively small num-
bers and cause little damage to cul-
tivated crops. This year. however.
the caterpillars of the second brood
the weeds, such as lamb's-quarter
and sweet clover. which normally
constitute their main food supply,
were not sufficient to support them
and they spread to beets. truck crops,
fruit trees and various ornamental
GIANTS and flowers.
| The caterpillars were first noticed
in injurious numbers on the beets
during the latter part of August, and
by the middle of September the older
specimens began to reach maturity.
From that time on, until late in Oc-
tobcr, the full grown caterpillars
were seen hurrying away in search
of winter quarters.
1T is a remarkable fact that the
caterpillars had extremely few nat
ural enemies this year. Birds did
not cat them and, with the exception
of very few which were killed by
disease or parasites, they were un-
molcsted. At the present time thous-
ands Of bright healthy pupae can be
found under weeds. etc. along the
fences and irrigating bitches.
"Sprayir. experiments which were
conducted last September proved that
the catcrpillars. unless quite young.
arc hard to kill. either with Paris
green or arscnate of lead. However.
there is an easy and effective remedy
which can be practiccd during the
winter months. This consists in
burning the dead weeds and rubbish
about the fields. This burning will
not only have the great advantage
of destroying quantities of weed
seeds and the caterpillar pupae. bu,
will likewise reach the alkali bugs
which are also hibcrnating by thous-
ands under the weeds and grass.
''In order to get the desired results
everybody should pursue this course
Of destruction. Clean up and burn
weeds and rubbish everywhere--I
the field, along the bitches and lat
along all roads and trails. especially
along the county roads. Clean NJ
around your homes, houses, she'd,
and barns. rake about the yard. tho
orchard and the garden. Clean W
wherever you do not plow and farm
You will kill many insects and de
stroy quantities of weed seeds"
So much for the man interested
and concerned for our beet, melon
and other farm crops-and we all are
directly or indirectly, and should all
do our little part near at hand 4,
least in lcssening general pests b.,
keeping our local door yards and
garden patches clean. But still an
other item of intcrst peculiarly SO
to townspeoplc is that web-moth Mr.
Marsh alludcs to. Last year our
graceful cottonwoods were abom.
inably infested. dishgured and injured
in their growth by the web-worm
They hung in sackfuls on our trees
and little or no attention was given
to their destruction. They fell in
millions from their webs when ripe
and sccreted themselves in the un.
dcrgrowth and tree bark and are
likely to put in an appearance in in
creased numbers this year. The only
thing to be done, Mr.. Marsh says is
to burn them out as they hang in
their webs on the trees. Somebody
might make some money this autumn
by coupling themselves with kero-
senc torch long enough to reach the
pests and making round Of the