Arizona republican., 1913-11-28

remedy is to collect the insects by 1 dragging with a hopper dazer," pull 1 ing it back and forth across the field after the crop has been cut Ere quently the hoppers can be gathered so successfully the results can be compre- i hended in terms of barrels full. A good hopper dazer can be made for ten or twelve dollars. Anyone interested may obtain a blue print showing the method of construction by applying to Mr. Morrill's office on Adams street in Phoenix
 The large red ant-the "harveste err is another pest that infests alfalfa 1 fields and does some damage. This in sect is already doing considerable dam age in the Salt river valley, but is only now commencing to establish himself in the Buckeye country. It is impor- tant, therefore, for the Buckeye farm CTS to take measures to prevent it's spread and reproduction. Isolated col , onies must be destroyed or the pest , will become unmanageable. Although these separate colonies may not seem to be accomplishing much damage right now, if neglected, they will soon absorb about ten per cent of the ac- reage for their homes-a space which
 
 vegetation.
 This pest may be controlled by the use of potassium cyanide CKCN), 99 per cent pure, by carbon bisulfide, or by London purple. The first two are especially recommended for use in de stroying a few nests in an orchard or small field, in order to save trees from defoliation. The cyanide is dangerous if carelessly handled or left around where children can reach it. One ounce dissolved in a gallon of water makes a good poison for quick results. About a pint of this solution should be poured down the entrance to the ant nest. Ten days alter the dose should be repeated if the ants show activity again at that particular spot
 Carbon bisulfid is a thick yellow oily liquid which volatilizes quickly. The gas. being heavier than air. pene- trates through the tunnels and cham bers of the nest, destroying all the life it touches. The smell is closely related to that of spoiled eggs. About one ounce of the liquid poured into the en- trance to a nest makes the entire dwell ing inhabitable. Dirt should be kicked into the entrance. The ground around should be wet so as to drive the fumes down the hole and keep the victims in where they will smother. Carbon bi- suIfid is made in two grades. The grade that is recommended for ants is the same used for gOphers and prairie dogs; it is quoted by one maker at five to ten cents a pound in fifty pound lots f. O. b. Phoenix.
 London purple Is recommended for destroying ants in large fields where there is a large number of pests. A spoonful of the poison is sprinkled around the opening. The ants carry grains of the powder into the store rooms accidentally on their bodies and legs and it poisOns the food supply. Different lots of the purple differ in effectiveness for reasons not under stood and unexplained by chemical means. Before buying a large quan- tity of the poison, therefore, buy a lit tie and try it out. Or buy from several lots, determine which is the most ef- fective and use that.
 The alfalfa seed fly was the last pest described in Mir Morrill's lecture. This insect is a tiny black wasp which breeds inside the seed and frequently reduces the yield of seed from six to fifty per cent. If this pest could be eradicated the value of the alfalfa crop in Arizona could easily be made to reach half million dollars more than it does. Climatic conditions in this part of the world are more favor able than in any other section for the production of seed.
 The seed fly occurs in all parts of the United States and is one of the biggest drawbacks to the production of the crop. Arizona would benefit more than any other state from the discov- cry of a means of coping with the raVages Of this insidiOus little mon- ster. The problem would easily justify one mans entire time in study, but it is not possible to give this much attention to the subject just now.