Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1918-06-27
ARHIS AND GRASSHOPPERS
" CAUSE BIG LOSS TO CROPS
- IA
Mr. Ellsworth Defines Method of
Combating Aphis Pest

Washington, told me that the pre-
ventable losses from insects In the
State of Idaho. amounted to more
than all of the taxes for all purposes
collected In this state. running up 10
several million dollars. The damage
from grasshoppers and aphis alone in
southern Idaho amount to more than
one million dollars. was much
Interested in discussing this matter
that time engaged IN the study of
theee destroying insects and went far
enough to satisfy myself that his
otatement was largely true.
y There is a great deal OF prevent
oble loss in this world. Diseases can
~ prevented. Many crop losses can
~ prevented by proper understand
ine OF what to do and when to do It,
4 We are fortunate in having as Coun-
< y Agent in Gooding County Mr.. j.
O. Ellsworth. who has given this sub
5oct much attention, and has recent
I 3 owen to the farmers in that Coun-
- instructions as TO how to handle
\ IL "clover aphis" and ! am taking
Ne liberty of furnishing a copy Of
tk0oe instructions to all interested
uVory farmer. whetner he care to eor
~ has got To become more or less
~ = biologist and must study the
hnb1ts and methods OF work of the
ynt1ous bugs. some OF which are his
4 h1ffouds. like the ladybird beetle.
I'D some are his deadly en-
( Members OF our County Farm Bu-
foau are well posted on this subject
md II you are having dose of grass
hopper or aphis and the reasons
given by Mr. Ellsworth in the fol-
lowing article are not clear and plain
70 you | would suggest that you dis
euss It With your County Agent, Mr.
Avery, as we'll as members of the
County Farm Bureau.
r. +. SHEPHERD.
Mr.. Ellsworth's article follows:
'Unless the most stringent mea-
(. eures are taken by clover growers in
Douthern Idaho to hold the clover
ahis in check. a large per cent of this
years seed crop will be ruined; in
fact, the average field is so badly in
tested at present that unless control
moasures are used the seed obtained
viii not pay for the expense of cut
ting and hulling. Every field in
I Southern Idaho is infested. though
many growers are not aware that
s aDhfs Is I'm their fields. When only
80 or 400 aphids are present. they
romain concealed beneath the little
ensheathing leaves at the base OF the
leaf stalk Pull the leaf down on the
sfem and you will find them I'm lat
or stages OF infestation the aphids
may be found on the surface of the
STAN and leaf stalks. as many as g.
! oo0 having been counted on the stem
\ and leaf-stalks of single shoot.
A. soon as the clover heads begin
y open. the aphis crawl in among
tn little forets where the seeds are
forued Here they feed and repro
6ueo and fll the head with honey
dew The aphis Injuries the clover
&(134 by sucking out the vital juices
n - the plant, thus stunting Its growth
!. nad preventing the formation of nor
n al seed; (2) the mature clover head
Doaomes saturated with honey-dew
~ that the seed cannot be removed
~ the huller while the seed that
i 1Ay be obtained Sticks together as
fnonSh 1t were mixed with syrup.
The University will announce def
Is 1nlfe measures this fall for perman-
- "a. control of the clover aphis The
0)lowing recommendations are made
y order to save the seed crop this
Is absolutely necessary to clir
NJ hay. Put off clipping as late as
Il (tble, not earlier than the fifteenth
H9l1ne, and July 1st Is still better
20 m Reason for this Is to allow ~he
1t3fn enemies (lady-bird beetles
1aceous maggots. and minute
o1e) which multiply rapidly onl,
RI warm and hot weather to become
5 ~ Gbundant as possible before the
IS ~ Be- cut.
oep water off of the field for a
two weeks before clipping;
n period Is better. so as to keel
zSz ~ the new shoots and allow the
nee of the ground to become thor
s& Nv dry.
& III the hay into the shock as sooi
S psible. after cutting. As soon ~
M Lay has been removed from th'
and on hot. bright, sunshin,
30 over the field with n spike
harrow to which II attached
brush drag. This treatmen
mock the aphis off of the stub
nd stir up a good dust mulch