Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1914-09-04

sonsin, and northern Illinois, parts Of
Minnesota, the southern part ofa
Michigan, and northern Ohio; also in
northeastern Pennsylvania south
eastern New York, parts Of Connect Il
cut, and New Jersey. This is inii-
cative Of a great abundance of Whit
grubs 10 1915, and judging from tht +.
greater abundance Of beetles in MOST
Of these sections this spring thart
three years ago, the gruo injury will
be even greater than in 1912, when
it caused many millions of dollars
damage. 1t is Of greatest importance,
the departments socialists say, that
farmers properly handle their fields
this fall and next spring to prevent a
repetition Of the enormous losses oc-
casioued in 1912. Injury can be re-
duced TO a minimum by adopting the
{ ,llow ng practices;
In the se.tions above mentioned
the important economic species have
a three year life cycle; that's, beetles
appearing in the spriny OF 1914 de-
post eggs which hatch about MONTH
after being laid. The young grubsl
feed on roots and decaying matter,
but seldom do damage during their
FIRST year. However, the following,
| year (1915 in the case Of the destruc-
tive brood under discussion they are
larger and feed almost entirely on
liAing roots, preferably corn, timothy,
potatoes, stra.- berriss, etc, causing
great loss when abundant. The fol
lowing sp'ing (19l6) they feed more
| or less, but by June or shortly
r thereafter they make earthen cells,
r become semidormant, and in a fort
' night or longer change to brown
!. pupae, and a month later to adult
' beetles, in which condition they re-
: main in the soil until the next spring
n [1917].
+ The beetles lay their eggs in land
is covered with vegetation at the time
OF Of their higots ( May and June !, con
se sequently lard in small grain, timo-
~ thy, and snoh crops which cover tn
is ground, as veil as land overgrou
d with weeds at that time, are mo.
r likely to be infested the folIow,n,
year. 1t is also noticeable tina
r ground mean est timber will be heayi
est infested, other conditions BEING
+, lequa, since the parent beetles feed
: on tree foliage and do not fly great
st distances ii they can find suitabl,
IN places to lay their eggs near by.
Fields likely to be infested wit
of grubs should be thoroughly plowe
he between September Is and Octob,
ss- 10. The date of plowin. will Deepen
nd on latitude and the weather cond
lly tons, for the grubs go down as co
weather approaches and it Is desi
&C able TO pillow the fields Just befo
ian they go down when possible. If Il
ties grubs are abundant. hogs should
the allowed to run in the field wherev
os- this can be done, chickens and tn
pie keys are also valuable aids if Above
the run of newlyplowed ground.
IL it is impracticable to make use
be hpgs TO rid the infested of grubs,
ed deep and thorough disking shou
m follow the blowing, and in 1915 on
Ity crops least susceptible to injury, So,
les as small grains, buckwheat, Glove
AN ETC., should be planted, and by
means should susceptible crops, SD,
as coin, tlrlothy a d potatoes
II planted. While falling plowiI
I, should be practieed and is of gre
value for destroying grubs, neverth
!; le's It can not be depended upC
solely to eradicate grubs Cornfiel,
!. which were kept cultivated and Fl,
from an underground of weeds
May and June of 1914 may, vii
. r,asonable safety, he planted to cor
= or pototoes in 1915, although it
advisable to inspect the field frs. fl
grubs. While it il not ordinarily az
vlsable to follow corn after cor
nevertheless it is important at III
time, in those sections where ii
= grub will be abundant, to adopt tn
rotation for the coming year, ev,
though it may become necessary
~ assist the second successive ,or
=, crop with artificial fertilizer.
:, Proper precautions and plannin
:. OF rotations for next year at this TIM
vii. save many thousands Of dollal
:" in crops which otherwise would al
most certainly be destroyed by III
grubs. The reader is referred I
farmers Bulletin No SAB, of the de
AZ partment, fol further particulars o
~ the white grub
1t The favori!e pastims of william
Is SulZer il puttinO himaalf foruard !;