The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1915-09-10
PLAGUE OF GRASSHOPPERS.
The Pests Should Be Destroyed Before
They Lay Their Eqas.
Prepared by New York State College Of



Agricultural
Recent examinations by an expert
from the State College of Agriculture
have indicated that serious outbreaks
of grasshoppers may be expected again
In those sections where they were
abundant last year. This is due, In
part, to the fact that although large
numbers of the grasshoppers were kill
ed last year by the use of the poison
bait, they had had chance TO lay their
eggs before efforts were made to de-
stroy them.
At the present time, and until they
get to be pretty well grown, the young
grasshoppers are confined to the more
or less localized areas In which they
have Matched from the eggs. 1t Is COM
paratively easy for any one to locate
these breeding places now, and, ac-
cording to the experts, just as easy to
get rid Of at least a large proportion
Of the grasshoppers before they can do
serious injury to the crops.
There are several methods Of fighting
these pests. They can be poisoned, or
they can be caught In hopper doZers"
and destroyed. The so called kansas
bait" is perhaps as satisfactory a poi
son mixture as has been used.
The formula Is as follows: Twenty
pounds bran, one pound paris green,
two quarts molasses, three oranges or
lemons and about three and a half
gallons water. Mix the bran and paris
green together dry. If very much Of
the material Is to be mixed 1t Is adj
visable for the person doing the mix
ing to protect himself from breathing
the poisonous dust by tying moisten-
ed sponge or handkerchief over his
mouth and nose. Then mix the mo-
lasses and water together, squeeze the
Juice of the fruits into the water and
the skin and pulp chopped up fine and
moisten the bran with the liquid. Just
enough Of the liquid should be used to
thoroughly moisten the bran, but not
to make 1t sloppy. Then it should be
sown broadcast over the infested field,
preferably early IN the morning, so that
eat it before the heat of the day dries
the moisture in the bran. 1t should
be sown evenly and thinly over the
field, not In Jumps. Although the poison
may not kill the grasshoppers for a
day or so, it seems to stop their feed
ing as soon as they eat some Of It. The
amount of mixture In the foregoing
formula is enough for three or four
acres. Live stock Of all kinds should
be kept from the treated fields for n
few days to avoid any possible danger
Of poisoning them. If the grasshoppers
are especially numerous 1t may be ne
cessary to renew the poison bait after
four or FIVE days.
Where there is some sort of q spray
ing machine available, the infested
fields may be sprayed with arsenate Of
lead or paris green. The arsenate of
lead Is used at the rate Of five pounds
Of the paste to SO gallons of water The
paris green should be used In the pro-
portion Of one and one-half pounds to
fifty gallons Of water, with a pound
or so Of good lump lime added to pre-
vent burning Of the vegetation. About
two quarts of cheap molasses should
be added to each fifty gallons Of liquid.
Another material which may be used
as a spray Is arsenate Of soda, In which
one pound of commercial arsenate Of
soda Is used to two quarts Of molasses
and fifty gallons Of water.