The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1913-05-20

.GRASSHOPPERS.

i. BY 9. w. HOWARD, Ass,st, +
i. ant Entomolosist, University +
+ Farm, st. Paul.
I. /.
i. !. + + + !. !. !. !. + 4. I. 4. + + I.
It Is too early for us to predict pos
itively whether grasshoppers will be-
destructive during the coming season
or not. They were abundant in many
parts Of the state last summer and laid
eggs in large numbers during the late
summer and autumn. Although they
were so numerous two factors prevent
ed any serious injury to crops. The
cold, wet weeks In May and early
June retarded the development of the
hoppers, while the crops were given q
stimulus SO that they were we'll along
before the hoppers were large enough
to do any harm. Later, when they might
have attacked the heads of the grain,
there was enough succulent grass and
weeds between the grain to provide
them with the necessary nourishmeat.
Should the coming season be OF sim
liar nature We probably need not fear
any loss from grasshoppers, but If 1t
should be dry summer, especially in
the first half, condition which not
only favors the development of the
hoppers but also retards the growth OF
vegetation, including the crops, we
may expect considerable loss.
Even in good seasons the presence
of grasshoppers is not desirable, If for
no other reason than that they may
form the nuclei from which de-
strllctive horde may develop during
succeeding dry season. A little pre-
vention during such years is worth
large amount of cure at later date.
In Minnesota 1t seems that we must
adopt a combination of methods of de.
struction with which to combat these
pests, i. e., a combination of cultural
and spraying methods. Fall plowiag
is the best cultural method, followed
by disking. This is adopted where hop
pers have deposited their egg cases in
fields intended for cultivation, but is
just as applicable to uncultiyated or
reverted fields where egg-laying has
taken place. It is now too late to ad-
wise this course of action, but where
egg-laying areas are known it is not
too late to do something. Such areas
should be spring plowed just before or
when young hoppers. are Matching out.
If there is no time for plowing, these
fields may be gone over with disk
harrow. Areas plowed in the fall
should also be disked in the spring.
The date of Matching may be ascer-
tanned by observation. It occurs any
time between the first week in May
to early in June, depending upon tenn
perature conditions.
The best results will probably be OBJ
tanned by spraying in the spring.
Grasshoppers have a great fondness
for depositing their eggs in the ratEer
firm soil of roadways, bitches, revert
ed fields, and similar areas. In these
places the young hoppers hatch out
and sooner or later move into the
crops. It is not always possible to-
plow or disk such areas in the fall, but
sweetened poison spray can be
placed upon the young grass which
will serve as their first food in the
spring. The spray should be applied
as soon as the hoppers are hatched
from the eggs. Delay may prove "a
tai as they may move very quickly In
to the crops where it is not as easy
to carry out repressive measures.
Promptness of action means saving OF
time, labor and money, because 1t en-;
ables one to carry out the work over:
comparatively small areas, with the
same eventual results. The spray Is
made as follows: ;: = -. =
Sodium arsenite, 3 pounds; water,
1S0 gallons; molasses, 1k gallons. sFss
If smaller quantity of the spray is
sufficient use the above ingredients in
the same proportion.
Any spray pump which is used In
field or orchard spraying can be used,
although the field sprayer is best.
Even a bucket spray pump may be
employed. The spray should be ap-
piled, preferably in the early morning,
before the hoppers feed, in fine mist,
leaving the grass and weeds with a
dew-like covering of the solution. II
the area is small it should be entirely
covered with spray. If large, border
about two to four rods wide around
the outside may be sprayed, and also
several strips through the field, check
er-board fashion. Grasshoppers are
extremely fond of sweet substances,
and are sure to eat grass or other
plants covered with this sweetsned
poison. :-~"
Remember that spraying should be
done as soon as the grasshoppers
hatch, while they are still very small,
say one-quarter of an inch long, as
they soon begin. to move away from
their nursery areas. ~ III. -: a.
., KILL RUSSIAN ,THisTLEs.