The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-07-08
GRASSAOppERS DOOM
EDDY new DISCOVERY
Astonishing Results Achieved
by Newly Evolved
Formula.

After several weeks OF experiment
ing it seems certain that County Ad-
visor w. T. Mccall, assisted frequent
ly by H. A. Ireland, has discovered an
infallible means of exterminating
grasshoppers or crickets, as the pests
are also named. The results of the
experiments made are so eminently
satisfactory it is believed no section
of the United States will ever again
need fear grasshopper plague. If
this be the case the formula and plan
used by these men will more than
likely be heralded far anc wide.
Since early in the spring the agri-
culturists have been doing their best
to combat the plague of hoppers which
in the past two seasons has come to be
a menace to farming operation about
Greenleaf and Wilder. Poisoned bran
mash was tried extensively, but failed
to do the work. AS last resort the
advisors decided to try poison spray.
Less than three weeks ago they
sprayed the first fields of grain and
alfalfa. The basis for the spray is
sodium arsenite. The University of
Minnesota reported having tried this
method of poisoning with fair sue
cess. Taking the formula given by the
Minnesota experts the local men made
their first experiments. Results were
encouraging, but still not so effective
as desired as many hoppers survived
the diet of poisoned forage.
The experimenters changed the for
mula to meet their ideas, in particular,
making a slight increase in the
strength of the poison. Better results
were at once obtained. Annihilation
of the pests became so complete as to
astound both the experimenters and
the interested ranchers. In walking
across fields which had been treated
it became almost impossible to stir up
a live hopper. On every field treated
in the past 10 days the same amazing
results have been obtained.
In one treated field the dead crick-
cts were literaly piled up in the cor
rugations. There was hardly place
where bodies of the pests did not
touch others of their kind. In this
instance the pests had been herded
to tract in the center of the field by
the simple expedient of moving a
large number of swaths about the bor-
ders of the tract.
So enthusiastic have the farmers
become that they are contemplating
an organized campaign of extermina-
ton to cover the entire infested terri
tory. Meetings were held at Fargo,
Greenleaf and Wilder. While not full
" determined upon they may adopt
the plan of spraying every field and
defraying the expenses from a COM
mon fund.
The formula now used in the Can
von county campaign is extremely
simple. 1t consists of IA A-pound OF
sodium arsenite and two quarts of
molasses dissolved in so gallons of
water. A power spray outfit has been
rugged up which treats swath 70
feet wide at each trip through the
field. Effects of the spray are not
to be observed to their fullest extent
until after four or five days. By that
Tine the vegetiverous critters have
eaten of the prepared forage long
enough to saturate their systems with
poison. In another day or so they are
practically without exception, dead
,nes.
1t has been proven both here and
n Minnesota that the spray has no
Il effects on livestock. Cattle may
lat their fill of the treated forage
While it is yet fresh on the leaves
without danger. The spray has a
endency to slightly scald the tender
-egetation but it is thought some way
nay be devised of obviating this OBJ
ection.
FOREST FIRE PREVENTION