Weekly journal-miner., 1910-06-08
TO STUDY PEST THAT
 .PREYs ON SUGAR BEETs

To study the insect pests that prey on sugar beet plants in. the west, Mr. Harry B. Shaw, of the Bureau of Plant Industry of the U. S.. Depart ment of Agriculture, has been in Phoenix several days to look over the local situation. The Southwest ern Sugar and Land Company is CO., operating with the government in this work, and the results promised are very satisfactory.
 One of the pestiferous bugs that periodically visits the beet feld,- about once in ten years-is known scientifically as the Euteftix tenells, or beet leaf hopper bug, which MT. Shaw has proved is the direct cause of what is known as "cuTley top.' The effect of the visitation of this bug is to make the beet curl up and if it attacks the beets early in the season stops growth and lessens great pCAOCAIdSc OA Sueo1-
 Fortunately for the Salt River val ley, the beets, which are planted here in November and December, are well along before the bug might ap- pear, the insect matching along in March Or April. In regions where beets are planted in the spring, the results are more disastrous. The hopper bug of this species has been found in all arid and semi-arid re- gions. MT. Shaw's investigations have extended over Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Kansas and many other West ern states, and he is the man who first connected the hopper bug and curley leaf as cause and effect, and he will probably solve the best meth cd to exterminate the pest.
 That the hopper bug exists in this valley is no surprise, for it is native to regions where salt busn and other species of wild beet grow. The mys- terious thing about this pest is it's periodic appearance. The records for number of years show that it never appears two seasons in sue cession in one place and that it has never been known to come oftener than once in about ten years. Therefore, according to the statis- ties, which seem conclusive, there will be no more hopper bugs nor curley leaf in beet fields in the Salt River valley for the next decade. Whence the bug vanishes no one seems to know. Like fourteen-year loeusts it suddenly appears and as mysteriously goes.
 MT. Shaw believes that spraying will stop the inroads of the bug when found in the field, and with view to establishing that fact he will continue his laboratory experi-I ments. While MT. Shaw is naturally very conservative in his statements, he does not expect the bug to snow up in this valley again for some years, and the records will bear him out in this conclusion.
 Mir. Shaw has collected a number of specimens. The bug is of a light green color, very small, and lays its eggs in the stem of the beet leaf. When the sugar company first noticed signs of hopper bug in a certain field MT. Shaw was immedi- tely sent for, as he is considered an expert on this work.
 Speaking last night concerning in sect pests, MT. Shaw said that "too great care could not be exercised in new agricultural regions to prevent the introduction and spread of pests, on plants or trees as the ease may be. Ar. Shaw said that no chances should be taken with any pest and extreme measures are sometimes jus tifed in the work of extermination. The prevention of plant pests is a public service, and while an individ- ual may suffer in one instance the larger interests of all growers must be conserved.
 MT. Shaw did not care to take sides on the local controversy over the mealey bug. He said it might thrive here and it might not. He said as long as there was doubt great precaution should be taken to pre- vent its getting a start.
 REAPER CALLS BRIGHT YOUTH