The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-08-19
WHITE GRUBS LIKELY TO CAUSE UNTOLD LOSSES IN
 CERTAIN STATES IN 1915
Department of Agriculture Is sues Important Instructions For Preventing the Pest.

Washington, Aug. 19-Ine deStFuc- tive Naybeetles, or called June
 bugs, as was previously predicted by
 the United States Department of Az ricuIture. were extremely abundant the past spring in northeastern Iowa, southern Wisconsin, and northern illinois parts of Minnesota, the south ern part of Michigan and northern Ohio: also in northeastern Pennsylva- nia, south eastern New York, parts of Connecticut and New Jersey. This is indicative of great abundance or white grubs in 1915. and Judging rom the greater abundance of beetles in most of these sections this spring than three years ago. the grub injury will be even greater than in 1912 when it caused many millions of dollors damage. It Is of greatest importance, the depar rtment's specialists say. that farmers properly handle their fields this fall and next spring to prevent a
 repetition of the enormous losses oc- casione>d in 1912 Injury can be redu- ced to a minimum by adopting the
 following practices:
 Tn the sections above mentioned the important economic species have 8
 three year life cycle, that is, beetles appearing in the spring of 1914 depos- it eggs which hatch about month after being laid. The young grubs feed on roots and decaying matter,
 but seldom do damage during the
 first year. However, the following year q915 in the case Of destructive
 brood under discussion} they are lar ger and feed almost entirely on living
 roots preferably corn, timothy, pota- toes, strawberries, etc, causing great
 loss when abundant. The following
 spring q916D they feed more or less but by June 1st or shortly thereafter
 they make earthen cells, become semi dormant and in a fortnight md 8. month later to adult beetles, in which condition they remain in the
 soil until the next spring q9171.
 The beetles lay their eggs in land covered with vegetation at time of their flights (AFay and June), conse- quently land in small grain, timothy, and such crops. which cover the ground, as well as land overgrown with weeds at the tirne are most likely to be infested the following year.
 It is also noticeable that ground nearest timber will be heaviest in
 fested. other conditions being equal,
 since the parent beetles feed on tree foliage and do not fly great distances if they can find suitable places to lay their eggs nearby
 Method of Preventing the Pest. Fields likely to be infested with gr1lbs should be thoroughly plowed between September IS and October 10. The date of blowing will depend on latitude and weather conditions for | the grubs go down as cold weather approa ac1es and 1t is desirable to blow the fields just before they go down when possible. If the grubs are abund- l ant, hogs. should be allowed to roam In the field whenever this can be done; chickens &i1d turkeys are also va1ua- ble aids if allowed to run in the newly | to make use of hogs to rid the infest- I cd fields of grubs, a deep and thor ough dis1ing should follow the blow ing. and in 1915 only crops least slas- ceptible to injury, such as small grains, btckwheat, clover, vetch, etc, should be planted, and by no means | should susceptible crops such as corn, l timothy, and potatoes be planted While fall blowing should be practic- l ed and is of great value for destroy ing gT11bs, nevertheless it cannot be
 depended upon solely to eradicate the grubs. Corn fields which are kept l cultivated and free from undergroWth th may, with reasonable safety, be plant ed to corn or potatoes in 1915, although Lit is advisable to inspect the field first for grubs. While it is not ordi- nary advisable to follow corn after corn nevertheless it is important at
 grub will be abundant, to adopt this rotation for the coming year. even
 though 1t may become necessary tc I assist the second successive corn cror with artificial fertilizer.
 Proper precautions and planning ot l rotations for next year at tlais time will save many thousands Of dollars tn crops which otherwise would a1rnosi certainly be destroyed by grl1bs. The reader is referred to Farmers Btlile- tin No. 543 Of this Department, fo1 further particulars on the white grub