Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-04-24
Eiahtina the Alfalfa WeeviI.


\ dispatch from Salt Lake City
brings the pleasing news that the
scientists of the federal department of
agriculture feel hopeful that they viii
be able To make d successful fight
against the alfalfa weeviL They
speak conservatively Of the outlook,
but they make no concealment of the
fact that they are encouraged.
This encouragement comes princi-
pally from the successful outcome Of
their preliminary preparations They
have discovered in Europe a parasite
which feeds upon the alfalfa weevil,
and which there keeps the pest in
check. a quantity Of these parasites
has been imported in ice from Italy,
the parasites have reached the labOra-
tory of the department at Salt Lake
City, and are alive. The two problems
remaining for solution in connection
with the experiment are. to secure
satisfactory propagation Of the para
sites in the climate Of Utah. and to
determine whether they will be as
destructive TO the alfalfa weevil IN the
new environment as they are in the
old world
The agent in charge OF the under
taking is Mr.. A H Kirkland, one OF
the famous bug sharps7 Of the de
partment of agriculture. His marked
success in fighting the gypsy moth in
Massachusetts. after the pest had
threatened the very destruction of
tree life in New England, warrants
the hope that he will be equal to the
emergency in Fighting the weevil
which threatens the alfalfa industry
Of the whole country.
So far, the alfalfa weevil is not
found in this country outside of Utah.
Presumably il was imported with
hay straw used in packing the house
hold goods of Mormon immigrants
from Europe. At any rate this is the
theory OF the scientists of the de-
partment OF agriculture.
In view of the enormous value of
the alfalfa fields of the western half
of the United States, this weevil,
because Of its destructive powers, may,
ii left unchecked, work destruction
10 the amount Of millions OF dollars.
Any section of the country is in
danger. for railway shipments to and
from Utah reach all parts Of the west.
There is a direct danger connected
with such shipments as emigrants
usually make-farm machinery, house
hold goods and live stock.
The wideawake people Of the Salt
River valley were among the first
10 recognize the menace to the al
falfa industry of the United States,
and our board Of trade sent TO Wash
ington some strong representations
on the subject, accompanied by re
quest TO congress for special appro-
priation to be used in fighting the
weevil.
Mr.. kirkland, mentioned above,
makes an intelligent statement of the
problem as he finds il:
We cannot promise. of course, that
the means we have undertaken TO
eradicate the alfalfa weevil pest will
be successful We are hopeful, how
ever, that il viii be so. At any rate,
the government is enough interested
in the farmers of Utah and surround
ing states to tell us to proceed with
our experiments. and we shall do all
we can to get the very best results
from this work.
The alfalfa weevil is a native of
Europe and western Asia. In those
countries, however. its ravages are kept
down by "A parasite. 1t is that parasite
we have brought from Italy to expert
ment with in this country
There is no telling how long ago
the weevil was introduced in the
United States. 1t may have been
brought over in hay used as packing