The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1916-10-24

1.-THE alfalfa weevil does not exist
here, or anywhere on the Twin Falls
tract so far as we have been able TO
ascertain" said Professor E. ]. Fjel-
sted, of the university extension when
asked by a TIMES representative
whether the weevil had been found
here. "There is more or less weevil to
be found at Preston, Blackfoot, Sire
veil, Malad City and ST. Charles in
this state and some districts in Utah
are badly affected" he continued, "but
none seems to have appeared any
where on the Twin Falls tract. There
have been reports to the effect that it
has been found, but on investigation it
was generally discovered that the or
binary measure worm was mistaken
for the larva of the weevil by those
who did not know what the weevil
looked like. Anyhow, we never found
any on our investigation"
"Have any effectual means been
found to prevent their spread" he
was asked.
after twelve years of investigation
the experts of the United department
of agricultural have been unable to
determine finally what means can ef-
fectively prevent it's spreading" re-
piled Professor Fjelsted.
"a farmers bulletin issued July II,
1916, by the department, a copy of
which you may take along with you,
says That no one knows exactly
how the weevil spread, may be infer
red from the conflicting regulations
designed by uninfested states to ex-
clude them The same bulletin sug-
gests as remedies in fields already
affected the following means of pre-
vention
The first and second crops of al
falfa can be protected from the alfalfa
weevil by spraying the young growth
in early spring, by proper pasturing,
or by cutting and feeding the crop be-
fore the eggs in it have been Matched,
and in a few cases by covering the
field with silt in early spring. The
growth of the alfalfa can be stimu-
lated and a larger yield obtained by
cultivating the field in the spring. The
second crop can be protected by spray
ing the stubble or by the dust-mulch
treatment.
Care should be taken to avoid
spreading the weevil by shipping out
of the infested district either new al
falfa hay or articles which have been
in contact with it or with growing al
falfa
ut may be that future investigation
will result in the discovery of some
means to stop the weevil from spread
ing, but up to the present such inves-
LEGATIONS have proven ineffective
whether conducted by the government
of the United States or by the states
affected. The United States govern
ment station at Salt Lake City has
been investigating the subject for five
years without succeeding in prevent
ing their spread into new districts"
''What do you think of the statement
that the farmers of the state have lost
immense sums because Governor Alex
ander vetoed a certain appropriation
bill said to include an appropriation
for the investigation of the weevil ant
the means of preventing it's spread,
Professor Fjelsted was asked.
"Oh, I have nothing to say abou
that" he replied hastily. 81 will no
express an opinion on political mat
ter, for l am absolutely out of politics
AS long as you confine yourself t
scientific matters of interest to th
farmers l will answer your questions
as well as l know how, but l will no
be dragged into a political contro
yersy."
And observing that Professor Fjel
sted considered the interview at al
end when politics were introduced, tn,
reporter withdrew.