The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-11-26
WEED HARBOR INSECTS

Getting rid of grass weeds, and un- 1 dergrowth about the farms during the fall and early winter is one of the best protective measures the farmer can use against crop damaging insects the following year. Weeds, matted grass, dead vegetables and brambles along the fences, roadsides, margins, of fields, banks of little streamS or ditches, especially in irrigated terri tories, as the natural hibernahng and often breeding places of many des- tructive insects. This vegetation gives erasshoppers, cfinchs bugs and other Insects most favorable conditions for |reappearance the following spring and
 summer. Similarly, voluntary growths
 of wheat harbor the Hessian fly: while
 stray alfalfa plants in< the fields and
 around them may be the source of the incursion of grassh oppers- The
 Hessian fly in the absence of volun-
 teer. wheat at times lays it's eggs on
 the young crab grass which may
 spring up in the fall after a tract has
 been burned over. At present. In some parts Of the country, the late
 sown wheat is being infested by He's
 sian flies that have developed in the spread from. volunteer wheat Late sowing cannot be expected to protect
 winter wheat from attack in spring if volunteer wheat has been permitted [ to grow up either in nearby fields or
  hoppers lay millions of eggs along the banks of canals and ditches in kthes western country. Chinch bugs hi- bernate in punches of broom. sedge, and many other pests could not en- dure the winter were 1t nPt Tor these natural nurseries.
 The entemologists therefore re commend to farmers that they fall blow sod lands intended for other
 than grass crops another year and clear up roadsides, fence margins and all waste lands, ditch banks and simi- lar places by burning over, pasturing, or in case of ditch banks, by blowing or disking in the fall. This will tear up the roots and expose the eggs of gFasshoppers to the excessive mois- ture and cold of winter and will also turn up those insects which hibernate l in the ground Burning vegetation where possible will destroy many in sects though, though in the case of grasshoppers it probably will not be eff ective as cultural methods. In ad- dition, cultural methods by turning hurnIs into the soil benefits the land. l Sheen, of course, lare the great en-
 eTnies of weeds and where Nheep can
 be turned into a field, or flock herd ed along the roadside, they will effec- lively clean up vast vegetation and in addition the tra.mplng of their feet will destroy many insects. The sheen at the same time turn waste material into mutton and all they require is a little grain for finishing Frequently when sold they return a profit, but the entomologists hold that even if they merely pay for the extra grain they eat their function in des- troying weeds and keeping insects down makes their use worth while.
 In many places community action is necessary as it may not be profit able for the farmer. to clear his side of the road if the other side is allow 1 ed to remain a harboring place for pests. In such eases it might well pay the community to get the sheep cooperatively and use them to clean up the weeds of the entire section.