Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-18
Danger Of Losing the Crops.


The appearance of, new pests in Diff
ferent localities and their active raw
ages threatens the destruction Of grow
ing crops, especially some on which
we are likely to be most dependent
next winter. DR.. G. NJ. Twitchell, on
his place at Monmouth, found a new
worm at work onihis peas and at once
warned the public. 1t is small-sized
worm, yeliowish green, with black
spots, about one-half to three quarters
Of an inch in length, and usually found
in clusters either on the top or under
side of the leaves. 1t does not eat like
the potato bug but takes the green of
the leaves, leaving the whittier portion,
and the ribs. remaining. DR.. Twitchell
has since found them on cabbages,
caulifiowers. beans, corn, and even on
gooseberry bushes. In writing of the
necessity for prompt action, he says:
That these pests work rapidly and
multiply very fast means that we must
be alive if we would save our daily
bread for next winter. Watching out
sharply 1 have been able to get them
under control with but little damage,
but a few days neglect would have
meant the destruction Of entire crop.
Reports have come to me Of whole
fields Of beans lost, as well as peas.
That they work on nearly all growing
crops justifies an urgent plea for
watchfulness, and immediate action
when found, for if this be not done
there will be great danger, not only of
! heavy loss this year, but greater next.
Being an eating pest some insecti-
eide is necessary to destroy. The bull
letins urge different forms or arsenic
for this purpose but for Is years
have fought shy of this, except on ap-
pie trees where no other agent could be
applied, and in this case find special
reasons for urging something safer.
| find a good busting with Bug Death
effective in the highest degree while
| perfectly safe to use AS peas and
| beans must be handled in Smelling o,
breaking there is danger Of arsenic
used over the vines. getting into the
! food, with bug death there is no dan
ger at oil, while the working effects
are as certain as with paris green OF
arsenate of lead.
Every grower of any crop should be
on guard, going over his garden or field
daily. watching sharply for the frs,
sign of attack. for in this way saving
! is made easy. Twenty four hours de-
lay will means heavy loss and possible
destruction of entire crop. All forms
of eating pests seems especially active
this season therefore it behooves us &c
be on guard, all the time, to save by
protection. We must destroy the pests
or they will destroy our crops"
The same pest has been found b,
others on blackberry bushes. We
don't pretend to advise as to the best
insecticide. but do urge prompt atten.
ton with any poison at hand with
which the farmer or gardener is ia.
miliar. We used "pyrox," because we
had a hand sprayer full in hand Il
the discovery had been made in the
early morning when the dew was or
the bushes, we should have used bue
death or some of the other powders
Care should be exercised with anv q,
them particularly in where they are
kept
Brother Twitchells warning is no,
only timely but should carry weight
and induce farmers and gardeners te
inspect with care and often.