The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-08-02
Grasshoppers Injuring Alfalfa.

We have been accustomed to ig-
more the Importance of grasshopper
injury in the Eastern States, and to
think of these insects chiefly as
pests of the central and western por-
tions of the United States. The fol-
lowing correspondence between an
extensive mine superintendent and
State Zoologist H. A. Surface gives
timely information on this subject:
The former wrote: I'm May of
last year we seeded eight acres of
alfalfa. In June we cut six tons of
hay; as soon as the second crop
commenced to shoot, it was practi-
cally eaten up by grasshoppers. This
year we had about the same expert
ence; our first cutting was very
poor as each root put up but about
one stalk. The second crop, how
ever, was nicely started, with from
five to twelve stalks to the root, and
a good color. Now l find that the
grasshoppers have nearly destroyed
the crop. Is there any remedy for
them? Our company has a
thousand acres of surface and can
use up most of the hay, but so far
the grasshoppers have destroyed
what would have been the two best
cuttings"
To this Professor Surface replied
as follows:
81 note with great interest that
you recognize the destruction of
grasshoppers to the hay crop, and
especially to alfalfa. This is some
thing that has not received proper
attention in Eastern America. These
pests are far more destructive than
| is usually supposed. / am satisfied
that sometimes fifty per cent of the
hay crop is destroyed by grasshop-
pers, but we do not realize this.
Also, l learn from observation
that alfalfa is especially subject to
this pest, as you suggest. 1t is prob
ably because of its continuous sue
culent growth. There is no known
remedy that has been sufficiently
tried to prove such as to Justify us
in recommending it without ques
ton, but I would suggest that plaT
of moving and removing the crop
and then at once spraying the stub
BILE with two pounds of arsenate O.
lead in fifty gallons of water; or il
moving all but a small strip in the
centre of the field, and spraying
this, and killing the grasshopper!
upon it, and then do not use thi
particular strip for hay. If yol
spray the stubble the new crop com
ing on will not be poisoned, and will
be ready for use for hay when it i
high enough.
You know how the grasshopper
gradually jump away from the NOW
ing machine toward the middle o
the field as you NOW around it. Th
moving could be done in such a wa.
as to drive them pretty we'll towart
the middle, and there they could b.
exterminated by spraying with
: crop sprayer, the same as is used TO
potatoes. If this is not done tn
pests accumulate, and become NOR
and more in number each year.
The alfalfa field is particular
adapted to the increase of sue
pests, for the reason that this GRO
remains in the field sometimes TO
several years, and thus the import
! ant method of past control by mean
of crop rotation is not possible. Thi
, is one feature that must be consid
cred in the growing of alfalfa. A
surely as you let the grasshoppers o
other pests attack this crop un
checked, and multiply in the fiel
year after year, they will prove NOR
: and more seriously destructive. On
2 of the two methods suggested abov
should help to give relief from then
) /, therefore, earnestly recommen
I prompt attention in this regard, an
:, hope to hear of your results later.