La Junta tribune., 1916-07-29
MAN RAISES CROP OF BUGS.
Rocky Ford Scientist Whiles Away
Time Nursing Insects and
smooth and Woody Worms.

Different people have various and
sundry ways of spending their time
between meals to secure the constit-
uents of said meals and some OF
their occupations are queer indeed.
II is now believed, however. that the
prize winner has been found and as
might be expected he lives in our
neighboring city of Rocky Ford. He
spends his time growing bugs which
is going some for a real live man. or
course apiarists raise bees. which
might be called bugs. II one is not
too particular about the scientific
correctness os his terms. Bees.
however. are not raised because man
finds JOY In their companionship,
but because they are a disagreeabe
necessity incidental to the production
OF honey. Many people also do lots
to foster the growth and happiness
OF flies which might likewise be mis-
termed bugs, but their presence is
generally undesired and they are
about as welcome as an inebriate at
temperance rally.
Our Rocky Ford neighbor. how
ever, raises bugs for their own dear
sakes, being employed by our Uncle
Samuel to attend to their wants and
shelter them from the yicissitudes of
the cruel world. He provides for
them carefully. keeping them in well
polished glass houses and feeding
them on fresh leaves when they ap-
pear to desire II. He Is not partial
to any one variety of bugs to the ex-
clusion of all others. but he does lin
II his attention to five varieties. His
favorite bug, however. Is one that
has been a pest to sugar beet grow
ing farmers in the woody worm stage
OF its existence. These bugs he keeps
In the before mentioned manner and
keeps tab on their habits of life. He
counts the generations In each sum
mer and attempts to ascertain the
number of eggs iaid by-eact- bug uf
the egg laying persuasion. Altogeth-
er II is tedious Job. for bug eggs
are not as big as ostrich eggs and
are rather more frequent.
The name OF the man in question
is II. %. Marsh, who Is an entomolo-
gist In the employe of the United
States Department OF Agriculture.
lie has been stationed at Rocky Ford
for several years and Is studying the
sugar beet web worm. hoping by be-
coming acquainted with the habits OF
the destructive creature to be able
to discover means OF eliminating the
pest from the obstacles with which
farmers have to deal.
Mr.. Marsh probably knows more
living man. AS he has made It's study
his speciality for years. He has writ
ten a number OF government reports
on his work and no doubt will soon
solve the question OF Its elimination
Mr.. Marsh has dozens OF glass jars
each OF which has u layer OF moist
earth on the bottom and containing
leaves OF the sugar beet to feed the
animal also contained In the jar. Ov-
er the month OF the jar IL stretched
= piece OF gRuze TO prevent the es-
cape OF the brute. II seems TO be
pretty soft for the bug to have a nice
quiet home In the shade with plenty
OF water and food provided. but
some time his hug relatives and
neishbors will have TO pay for his
good time.
The entomoiokIsts also has a nice
collection OF insects aud creatures OF
other varieties neatly mounted In
polished wood cascs. Some OF them
ar. so tiny that II seems almost I'm
possible that man could capture
on. II they are as active as such
creatures usually are. but Mr.. Marsh
says that he raised them and no
doubt he had them 80 tame that
there was no difficulty In laying his
hands on them when they were nice
and plump and impaiins them with
the insect pin used for mounting
such curtosities.