Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-08-04
RAISES CROP OF BUGS
Rocky Ford Scientist Whites Away
Time Nursing Insects and
Woody Worms

Different people have various and sun
dry ways of spending their time between
meals to secure the constituents of said
meals and some of their occupations are
queer indeed. 1t is now believed. how
ever. that the prize winner has been
found and as might be expected he lives
in our neighboring city of Rocky Ford. says
the La Junta Tribune. He spends his
time growing bugs which is going some
for real live man. or course apiarists
raise bees. which might be- called bugs,
if one is not too particular about the
scientific correctness of his terms. Bees.
however, are not raised because man
finds joy in their companionshlp. but be
cause 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 mistermed bugs. but
their presence is generally undesired and
they are about as welcome as an inebri-
ate at a temperance rally.
Our Rocky Ford neigbbor. however,
raises bugs for their own dear sakes,
being employed by our Uncle Samuel to
attend 10 their wants and shelter them
from the vicissitudes of the cruel world.
He provides for them carefully. keeping
them in well polished glass houses and
feeding them on fresh leaves when they
appear 10 desire it. He is not partial to
any one variety of bugs to the exclusion
OF all others, but he does limit his atten-
ton to FIVE varieties. His favorite bug,
however. is one that has been a pest to
sugar beet growing 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 num-
ber Of eggs laid by each bug Of tie lay
ing persuasion Altogether 1t is tedious
job. for bug eggs are not as large as os-
trich eggs and rather more frequent.
The name of the man in question is H.
o. Marsh. who is an entomologist in the
employ of the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture. He was stationed
a. Rocky Ford for several years and is
studying the sugar beet web worm.
hoping by becoming acquainted with tho
habits of the destructive creature to be
able to discover means Of eliminating the
pest from the obstacles with which far
mers have to deal.
Mr.. Marsh probably knows more about
this particular pest than any living man,
as he has made its study his spec
iality for years. He has written num-
Der of government reports on his work
and will no doubt soon solve the
question of its elimination.
Mr. Marsh has dozens of glass jars
each of which has a layer of moist earth
on the bottom and containing leaves of
the sugar beet to feed the animal also
contained in the jar. Over the mouth OF
the jar is stretched a piece Of gauze to
prevent the escape Of the brute. It
seems to be pretty soft for the bug to
have nice quiet home in the shade with
plenty of water and food provided. but
some time his bug relatives and neighbors
will have to paw for his good time.
The entomologist also has nice COL
lection of insects and creatures OF 9th err
varieties neatly mounted IN polished
wood cases. Some of them are so tiny
that it seems almost impossible tnat a
man could ca pture one if they are as ac-
tive as such creatures usually are. but
Mr. Marsh says that he had them so
tame that there was no difficulty in lay
ing his hands on them when they were
nice and plump and impsling them with
the insect pin used for mounting such
curioslties.