Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-04-09

Washington, D. c., April Z, Especially
When the farmer wishes advice re-
garding practical methods Of dealing
with insect pests, he may obtain the
same without any expense other than
d postal card. This should be address,
ed to the Bureau Of Entomology,
United States Department Of Agricul-
ture, Washington, D. c. More than
$50 skilled investigators Of insects are
employed in this branch Of the de-
partment actively engaged in studying
the habits of harmful pests, examining
and trying out possible remedies, and
in passing on this information to the
individuals most in need of It.
Not only does the Bureau Of En-
tomology give information regarding
the determination of weI-known in
sect foes, but il can usually identify
pests unknown TO the sender and
recommend a remedy. In this case
specimens must be sent by the person
desiring the information. The best
way to send most insects Is IL a living
condition with a supply Of food III q
strong wooden box, although they
may be sent in alcohol IN a mailing
tube By preference the experiment
station or agricultural college nearest
the famer's locality should be applied
to first, as more particular and init
mate knowledge may be obtained re-
gardElg the present activities Of the
undesirable insect. The bureau at
Washington, however, also answers
such Inquiries, its particular sphere
being to deal with such pests as are
doing injury over larger areas than
represented by a single state.
Harmful insects are not the only
ones about which information may be
had by writing to the department S
Bureau Of Entomology or the various
experiment stations in the states. II
some strange looking creature arouses
the farmers curiosity, he may write
TO headquarters and learn as much as
is known about it. No return postage
need be enclosed.
A general idea of the scope Of the
department bureau may be gained
from this list of it's offices dealing with
insects attacking special crops:
Apple-insect Investigations.-Many prep
such insects as the cooling moth which
attacks apple trees. How effective con-
roiyof apple plant lice may be obtained
by the timely use of nicotine sprays will
be explained TO any applicant for tins
information.
Feach-Insect 1nvestigations.-The peach
borer is being thoroughly studied and
many Washes and practices that We're
once thought valuable for its control have
been discovered to be worthless. A sue
cessful treatment has already been de-
veaoped for pear thrips, the details of
which may be had by anyone Interested.
Grape-1nsect Investigations. - Expert
nents in renovating old vineyards in
tested with certain crop pests have re-
suited in much benefit TO the owners.
Nut-inSect lnVestlgatlOnS.-Many pecan
growing regions in the South are profit
ing from the application of sprays applied
with high-power sprayers, as recommend
ed hY the bureau.
|. Orchard insecticides and Spraying Ma
ch1nery.-The relative merits OF most
types of commercial insecticides have
been determined and new preparations
as they are put on the market are tested
as soon as practicable. Spraying appara-
tus is subjected to similar scrutiny. 1t
being the desire Of the office to determine
the most economical type for each par
tcular problem.
Cranberry Insect investigations - The
method OF flooding bogs now in vogue is
beng investigated to determine it's value
and TO improve the method if possible
IlOiAGlI ISIiiSOiSS ErS DSlllE worked
as well.
orchard-1nsect Survey. is
being gathered on large number of or
charc insect pests al present Of minor
Importance Ill the United States and
should these pests at any time become
dangerous the information will be irnrne-
dlately available.
Cereal-lnsect Investigations Such dam
serous creatures as the Hessian f1y the
corn-leaf aphis, cutworms, rootworns
WireWorns, army worms. and the vhjte
grub are having their fields of ac+ion
greatly limited by the ar+i1J+iae 80 80,
office. - NAA0
forage-1nsect Investigate ons-pests in
resting alfalfa, clover, SOY beans cow
peas. etc, are Of interest to this Office
Other Offices deal with insects that
lnJure cotton, tobacco, rice, and sugar
cane. Still others look into remedies
LOT pests that damage forests or
forest products. The Mediterranean
fruit fly has offered such a dangerous
menace to the United States. because
OF the fruit yearly imported from
Mediterranean countries that one of.
nee devotes its energies to controlling
TINS undesirable importation and to
take any Quarantine action that NAV
be necessary. The great number of
tropical and subtropical fruits growing
IN our Southern States has made n
necessary for another Office to deal
with their particular enemies. Thus in
Florida the white fly" is being com.
bated. while in California methods NJ
casing citrus groves to drive out
scale insects are being developed
ana IN Arizona and Texas date-palm
pests are studied. The work in each
case is done in cooperation with the
interested states.
There also are specialists detailed tn
help the grower Of such truck crons
as potatoes, onions, spinach, tomatoes
melons. cpcumbers. beans, peas. and
lettuce. Sugar-beet pests receive spec
lal attention. Even the busy pests
lnat seek out agricultural products af.
ter they are stored are fought by other
specialists. who make up a special Of
nee devoted to this purpose. New
methods of sterilizing such products
are being devised as well as for
making insect-proof cartons and con-
tanners for cereals and dried fruits,
Finally. there are three very i'm
portant branches of the cepartnen+'s
bureau OF EutOmoloey.