Graham guardian., 1912-01-19
JANUARY 10. 1912
THE ALFALFA WEEvIL

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Our last issue contained an illus
trated article Of timely interest con-
cerning the Utah alfalfa weevil,
written by DR.. A. w. Morrill,. the
entomologist of the Arizona Horti-
cultural Commission and of the Uni
versity of Arizona Agricultural
Experiment Station.
In this issue we present additional
information concerning this pest,
with suggestions for legislative ac-
ton to provide protection against
its introduction into Arizona. This
article is from the report of the en-
tomologist, included in the third
annual report of the Arizona Horti-
cultural Commission.
Everyone in this valley, whether
engaged in banking, mercantile busi-
ness or farming, is vitality interested
in the matter of keeping the alfalfa
wecvil outscf Arizonr.
With the value Of alfalfa farms
in Arizona, estimated at eighteen or
twenty million dollars, and the crop
rated as the leading money crop of
the State, it is probable that there
is no more important subject fer
legislation in Arizona today than
that of providing protection, as far
as practicable. against the introduc-
ton of the Utah alfalfa weevil.
The quotation from the entomolc-
gist's report follows:
At q meeting of citrus growers in
Phoenix. Arizona, June 8, l9l0 a
member Of the horticultural Com
mission, Mr.. Andrew Kimball, called
attention to the Utah alfalfa leaf
weevil and to the desirabiity of en-
larging the scope of the present law
to enable action to be taken against
pests of agricultural field crops, as
well as against horticultural crop
pests. Some months later the first
report relating to the alfalfa weeyil
was published by the Utah Agricul-
tural Experiment Station. This re-
port showed that although the pest
as far as known was confined in
1910 to several small counties near
Salt Lake City. there is considerably
more danger than with most insect
pests Of its being carried long dis
tances, and established hundreds Of
miles from the present infested
region. In consideration Of this
fact the entomologist has endeav-
ored to bring to the attention of
the people of the Territory the
danger that confronts them and has
endeavored to secure their co-opera-
ton in ain effort to do whatever is
possible toward averting this danger.
BY reason Of the isolated condi.
tion of our agricultural districts and
the fact that we have no direct rail-
road communication with Utah. we
are most favorably situated for pre-
venting the Introduction of this pest.
Methods which would not be avail.
able or which would not be practi-
cable for use in Colorado or Idaho
would be of vast Importance in
keeping the insect out of Arizona.
1t is almost inconceivable that
there is any danger Of the alfalfa
leaf weevil appearing in the farm
ing districts of Arizona by means Of
fight. Railroads are the only ave-
nues of entrance that need guard
ing. Alfalfa weevils may be carried
by means Of passenger cars; but
Arizona is endangered by freight
shipments Of household goods and
live stock from the infested district
more than by all other possible
means of importing the pest com
bined.
The danger from shipments origi-
mating in the infested section of
Utah would be very great, as is
shown by the following quotation
from the report of Prof. E. G..
Titus, of the Utah Agricultural Ex-
pertinent Station: While the crop
is being put up, weevils are often
SO numerous that men working in
the fields are made decidedly un-
comfortable by weevils crawling
upon their clothing, over their faces
and In their hair; and where the hay
from the fields is being put in the
barns, one side Of a barn may at
times be almost covered with adults.
Later Ia the winter, or in the early
spring, when the last Of this hay is
being fed out. the floor of the barn
syill often be swarming with weeyils