The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-05-02
DETERMINE To
WAR ON PESTS
Commercial Club Will Aid Gov
ernment Experts in Fight
Against Weevil.
PERMANENT LABORATORY
In VICINITY OF SALT LAKE
Scientists Tell Committee of
Progress Already Made and
Hope for Future.

Alfalfa weevil. source OF concern in
Utah al This time and threatening to
become a cause for general alarm In
other states where alfalfa is grown as
one Of the chief crops. Will be fought
to a finish by the government experts
through the cooperation of Utah influ-
ences, amone them the farmers and the
commercial bodies OF the state, This
was emphasized Monday afternoon when
the government staff from the bureau
OF entomology met with members OF the
commercial club committees on lands,
irriga tion and dry farming. AZ the meet
ing the following resolutions we're
unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That the bureau OF ento-
mology be aided In establishing a per
manent laboratory in the vicinity OF Salt
Lake City for the investigation and
destruction OF insects attacking cerea.
and forage plants of the country, aud
that copies of these resolutions be sent
to the Utah representatives In congress.
Prof. f. M. Webster, In charge of the
department OF cereal and forage insect
investigation, and F. M Kirkland, di-
rector In charge of the experiments now
being made in Utah. We're guests of the
COMMITTEES and spoke on the progress OF
the fight against destructive insects.
Professor Webster commented upon the
energy and enterprise shown by the gov
ernment In ably coping with every enemy
of plant life in the country as fast as
It becomes located
Pests Are Imported.
In telling OF the manner in which the
pests become scattered. Professor Web
ster said that in bringing all forms OF
plant life TO the United States IL is .un-
fortunate that the insects OF various
kinds that are natural enemies of the
plants are brought with the plants and
that seldom If ever Is II possible to
fight the insects. The government
bureau having in charge this phase of
work, ne said. is quick 10 locate the in
sects and to begin importing as rapidly
as possible the parasite peculiar TO the
insect, Speaking with reference to the
work in Utah. Professor Webster said:
The government has experts In the old
country now, collecting millions of the
alfalfa weevil parasites, and as fast as
they are collected they are being put in
cold storage and shipped TO Utah, where
Ing them until We have solved the weevIl
question. II II is to be done by use of the
parasites; In the meantime our field
fighting the weev. Already we have
successfully hatched out untold numbers
or parasites and are waiting until the
into the. fields OF alfalfa where we will
watch their work.
Extensive Field Experiment.
'An experiment is TO be conducted
when the first crop OF alfalfa is ready
to be cut We will 60 to the farmers
u.
hen we Will be able TO watch the effect
OF the plan by waiting for the second
crop In addition to these experiments
experts from the government are look
Ing for species OF alfalfa that will be
distasteful TO the weevil and thus de-
stroy them as they feed on the plant
with will be along the rights Of way OF
the railroads. II is there the weevil
gets started first by feeding on the wild
aIlaifa that grows unl1indered'
Professor Webster said q ia cucor,r-
aged In the work in Utah on account of
,he Se5a tba support 1t Is
where alfalfa is grown by the farmers
and by other influences
a. M Kirkland. who came to Salt
Lake to direct the experiments. recently
returned from a tour of inspection in the
infested districts. and In speaking of this
trip at the committee meeting he said
ready to cooperate with the department.
In conducting experiments. Mr.. Kirkland
said that IN some sections sheep will be
first crop VIII be kept down by the
sheep pasturing on the plant For the
second crop nothing Will be done as a
OF the sheep has accomplished any direct
results.
Reason for Encouragement,
Mr.. Kirkland spoke at some length on
the necessity and desirabillt OF having
a permanent laboratory near Salt Lake
He has his field force we'll organized
and told the members OF the committee
that with shipments OF parasites COM
ing In and the success with which they
are being propagated in the laboratory
he fully expects TO obtain definite re-
suits this year.
The meeting was called for the purpose
of eDlistlng the aid of the Commercial
club in the work through the committees
on farms and kindred industries The
meeting was attended by forty members
OF the three committees