Evening journal., 1915-08-04
HESSIAN FLY AGAIN
DAMAGES wheat CROP

WASHINGTON. Aug with the
exception of Russia. the yields of SUI
gar beets per acre in the United
States is lower than in any other beet
producing country. The average in
America is 1917 tons. and in Ger
many. 14.s4. The cost of labor in
this country and other factors of
similar nature, unquestonably ac-
count for some of this. difference but,
on the other hand, it is no uncommon
thing to find the widest range in the
yield of crops grown under condi-
tions that appear to be almost identi-
cal. One farmer, for example may
take 20 tons of beets per acre to the
factory. while his neighbor can only
1aul z or s.
A recent investigation by the Unit
ID States Department of Agriculture
resulted in the conclusion that the
differences we're frequently due to un-
suspected deficiencies in the stand. II
was found that without actually
counting them it was impossible to
estimate with any degree Of accuracy
the number of plants per acre and
that, in consequence, this number was
frequently much smaller than the far
mer had believed or intended. The loss
may occur before thinning, during
the process Of thinning and blocking.
and during cultivation between thin
ming and harvesting. For loss in
the termination stand the causes may
be found in poor preparation of the
seed, imperfect operation of seed
drills, late frosts, damping off or such
pests as cutworms or wire worms
Improper thinning however. is the
greatest single source of loss. In this
country the work is usually done
without efficient supervision and
there is no incentive to the laborers
to be careful and accurate. The US
ual result is that the space left be-
tween the plants is greater than the
farmer intended it to be. After the
plants attain a moderate growth this
tact IS not perceptible to the ordin-
airy observer 1t is revealed. however
IN a yield which is on the average 25
per cent less than il would have
been had the thinning been properly
uone A somewhat smaller loss fire.
quently occurs a little later when
some plants are destroyed by care
Iessness IN the use of the cultivator.
\ Ile heSsian Fly a Dangerous Pest.
The loss to the wheat crop this
year from the Hessian fly has un-
doubtedly been severe in many sec
tons. The habits of this destructive
pest are well known and they indi-
cate that unless precautions are TAX
. en- now this loss will be repeated
next year. There are two genera
& tions of the fly each year-one in the
.all and one in the following spring
the second generation being offsnrine
s of the former. To get rid of the
\ pest next year, therefore. the lv
should be destroyed this fall This
can be done by the simple process
= Of starving out the fly. The foilowina
4 rules have been drawn I'D bv asri-
4 cultural authorities in Oklahoma ana
are applicable to all sections of The
& country:
L. Burn, where possible and safe
All stubble and ruined wheat.
2. Disk all stubble and ruined
4 wheat Immediately after harvest
where burning is impracticable
3. Plow under deeply all stubble
and ruined wheat fielders before AUG
1 ust Is. harrow the ground, and roll
T necessary.
4 4. Harrow. disk. pasture, or 9TH
\ srwise destroy all volunteer wheat
5. AS measure preparatory 10
sowing plow as early and deeply as
Il existing conditions will permit: disk,
harrow. and roll until thoroughly