El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-01-30

acquainted with bugs, he knows about
farming also. He goes about with the
farmer over his fields, giving an easy
explanation OF things which hitherto
have been mysteries. he shows the
farmer wherein his methods have been
largely accountable for losses due to
insect attack, and how, by suitable
cropping systems and methods Of
cultivation. such losses may be avoided
in the future.
The farmer learns incidentally how
to deal directly with the SraSshoppers
or other injurious insects that are as
sailing his crops. 1t may be that ne
can be helped importantly in the bug
fighting business by supplying him
with parasites-that is with small in
sects that are natural enemies Of tho
Injurious species. At the field stations
such parasites are reared artificially
in breeding cases, to be shipped to
farmers at distant points and there
liberated in the fields.
Wecvu Attacks Alfalfa.
Recently, by the way. the alfalfa
fields of Utah have suffered much from
the effects of the alfalfa WeeVlL Il
European insect accidentally miro
ducCd Tiny flies that attack and reed
upon this weevil have been fetched
from Italy-Or. more accurately speak
ing. the parasiti2ed eggs of the WeeVu,
which are shipped to this country IN
alfalfa stems containing them. The al
falfa stems are collected in the 1ields
by italian women who have been
taught how to pick out the ones con-
tanning eggs; and thus the farmers
wives over there give substantial help
to the farmers of the United states
The farmers arc getting the habit,
when he finds himself IN trouble with
bugs. OF calling Up the nearest en-
Genealogical field station by telephone
and asking advice-even though the
station be 80 miles or more distant.
He is glad OF an occasional opportunity
to pay a visit to the station, and to
observe what is going on there-the
STUDYING out Of the life histories OF
local insect pests, the breeding OF
parasites. and so forth. All of this work
is mighty interesting to him now that
he has come to understand 1t, and to
realize its value.
Can Handle own Problems.
When he goes back to his own
fields. he is better able to judge OF
his own insect problems. II paru-
cular pest is giving him trouble, ne
makes it a point to cultivate pusl-
ness acquaintance with its parasites
and other natural enemies. For he is
now beginning to understand that there
are really more beneficial than harm
full insects, and that the former are
are his friends.
a special point is made or carry lhs
out field experiments in places where
the latter may be publicly observed.
Il is desired that the local farming
community i'm any such case shall
know exactly what the government
/ experts are trying to do. Under such
| circumstances the farmer sees the eX-
pcriments in progress, asks whatever
! questions he wishes, and understands
/ the objects in view. He sees what re-
/ suits are obtained, and gets valuable
I hints for his own use in dealing with
! similar problems.
nmU Problem.
| Since very ancient times the f.rmer
/ has been up against the pestiferous
/ bug The widest misconceptions re-
gardiuE insects were formerly enter
| tanned. and, to a great extent, supersti-
/ ton took the place of the modern
| knowledge in regard to them. Less
/ than two centuries ago it was gem
/ orally beloved that they came into ex-
/ istence spontaneOusly-in other words,
created out of nothing at all