Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-27
DESTROYING A PEST.

NAeSA " vSOONIAhIls AAeAiASAS
Chicago; 225 Fifth Ave-, New YORK
City; Gumbel Bldg. Kansas City. MO.
DESTROYING A PEST.
Millions of dollars in crops will be
lost to the farmers of Iowa. Illinois
and other middle western states IN
1915, from the ravages of white grups'
unless proper precautions are taken 70
check the scourge, according TO IN
formation received from the depart
ment of agriculture.
The. destructive May beetles or SO
called June bugs. as was previously
predicted by the department, we're ex-
tremely abundant during the past
spring in northeastern Iowa, southern
Wisconsin, and northern Illinois as
vel! as in parts of Minnesota and
Michigan This is indicative OF a
great abundance of white grubs IN
1915. and Judging from the greater
abundance of beetles in most OF these
sections this spring than three years
ago, the grub injury will be even great
er than In 1912 when it caused many
millions of dollars damage. 1t is or
greatest importance, the departments
specialists say that farmers properly
handle their fields this fall and next
spring to prevent repetition OF the
enormous losses occasloned In lSlz.
Injury can be reduced to minimum
by adopting the following practices:
In the sections above mentioned the
important economic species have a
three year life cycle, that Is, beetles
appearing in the spring Of 1914 deposit
eggs which hatch about montn a1ter
being laid. The young grubs feed on
roots and decaying matter, but seloom
do damage during their first year.
However the following year Q9i5 IN
the case of the destructive BROOD uh.
der discussion) they are larger ana
feed almost entirely on living roots,
nreferably corn, timothy. potatoes,
strawberries, etc., causing great loss
when abundant. The following spring
1a16) they feed more or less but by
1nne or shortly thereafter they make
earthen cells, become semi-dormant
and in 4 fortnight or longer change to
brown pupae, and q month later to
adult beetles, in which condition they
remain in the soil until the next
spring u917). !,
The beetles lay their eggs in land
covered with vegetation at the time OF
their flights MAY and June), conse-
ouently land In small grain, timothy,
and such crops, which cover the
ground, as we'll as land overgroWn Win
weeds at that time, are most likely 10
be infested the following year. 1t IS
also noticeable that ground nearest
timber will be heaviest infested, other
conditions being equal, since the par
ent beetles feed on tree foliage and 90
not Nv great distances If they can md
suitable places to lay their eggs near
Fields likely to be infested with
grubs should be thoroughly plowed be-
tween September Is and October ~.
The date Of blowing will depend on lat
itude and the weather conditions for
the xrubs 20 down as cold weather ap-
proaches and it is desirable to plow
the fields Just before they go down
when possible. If the grubs are album
dant. hogs should be allowed to run IN
the field wherever this can be done,
chickens and turkeys are also valuable
aids II allowed: the run OF newly ploW-
ed ground. II It is impracticable to
make use of hogs to rid the infested
fields Of grubs, a deep and thorough
disking should follow the blowing and
in 1915 only crops least susceptible to
injury, such as small grains, buck
wheat. clover, vetch, etc. should be
planted, and by no means should sus-
ceptible crops such as corn, timothy.
and potatoes be planted. While fall
blowing should be practlced and Is of
great value for destroying grubs, never
the less it cannot be depended upon
solely to eradicate grubs. Corn fields
which were kept cultivated and free
from an underground Of weeds in May
and June Of 1914 may, with reasonable
safety, be planted to corn or potatoes
in 1915, although 1t is advisable to in
spec. the field first for grubs, While
it is not ordinarily advisable to fol-
low corn after corn, nevertheless it is
important at this time, in those sec
lions where the grub will be abundant,
to adopt this rotation for the coming
year, even though it may become nee
essary to assist the second successive
corn crop, with artificial fertilizer.
Proper precautions and planning Of
rotations for next year at this time will
save many thousands Of dollars in
crops which otherwise would almost
certainly be destroyed by the grubs.