South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-07-20
j. s. EXPERT WILL
HELP FARMERS To
GET RID OF PEST
EntOmOIogiSt to Work in St.
Joseph County During Week
in Conjunction With Bordner.
County Crops Good.

steps TO cope with the web worm
and other insect damagers will be
undertaken next week by County
agricultural Agent John S Bordner.
when y. w High. United States ento-
mologist Of Knox, Ind, will come 10
south Bend 20 assist farmers in the
county in destroying the pests. Mr.
High is a field man and makes "a
specially Of insect destrOyers Of truck
crops.
Great damage TO the crops of truck
gardeners has already been done in
various parts OF the county, and it is
with the purpose Of destroying these
ravishers that the entomolOgist is
coming to this county. The insects
have been unusually destructive this
year. il is reported.
The insects are more numerous this
season than years before due to the
drOuth OF last year and the early part
of this year. These insects are par
ticularly damaging to tomatoes. early
potatoes, sweet corn, and other garden
vegetables. AS Mr.. High devotes his
time exclusively to the study of in
sect life which destroys garden truck,
it is believed he will find a way in
which 10 cope with the situation.
Will Spend Several Days Here.
1t is expected that he will spend
several days here studying local con-
ditiOns and the direct cause of the
-over-supply of insects. MIR. Bordner
believes that the drOuth which pre-
vents the growth of fungal plants so
necessary in destroying these de-
stroyers, is one of TIE prime causes
Of the extensive damate done.
The web worm which damages al
falfa has been discovered in two
fields. The web worm is an insect
which spins a web at the base Of
young shoot of alfalfa and then eats
the foliage. lit is feared that this in
sect may have spread all over the
county, which being the case, will be
dangerous TO alfalfa crops in years to
come.
No traces of the black rust which
in many states has absolutely ruined
the wheat and which is one of the
hardest plant parasites TO kill, has
been discovered in the large crop of
wheat which was thraShed during the
last of June and the forepart of July.
The greatest damage to wheat this
year was caused by the fly. which
ravished the crops grown on mOder-
ately fertile soil Wheat raised on
rich lands had a higher yield to the
re than was obtained last year.
Large Acre Yields.
A number Of extra size acre yields
iii wheat were reported to the county
agent Harry Matthews of Center
township thrashed- 7S5 bushels from
81 acres, and William Schlarb OF
Madison township had a yield of 33
bushels an acre from a large sized
field. From a snail field of five acres
in Olive township, AZ bushels to the
acre were harvested.
over $4,000 2Cies were sOWn with
wheat last year with a yield of 49,
40 bushels, while il is estimated this
season that $4,000 acres were planted.
More than $4,000 acres of corn have
been planted this year as against A,
sos acres last year The corn yield
last year as estimated by the town
ship assessors of the county, was l.,
94S.S96. 1t IS expected that the yield
will be slightly higher this fall.
There will not be a full crop OF oats
this year but it is much better than
last. Onions are better than last
year, there being over 700 acres
planted.
Taking the crops all in all, Mr.
Bordner believes that they are better
at the present time than a year ago.
However. the yield will be smaller. if
the farm lands in the county do not
receive a thorough drenching soon.
The drouth, he declared. is drying
things up so that much of the corn
and truck garden is in danger.