Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-09-11
DRIVE OFF INSECTS
JUST LIKE SHEEP
WESTERNERS HAVE SCIENTIFIC
WAY TO GET RID or
GRASSACPPERS
Utah Has Destroyed Almost 5000
Tons OF the Pest.

Tons on the peSt.
Driving grasshoppers. almost as
sheep or cattle are driven. is said 10
be the best way 10 get them OUT Of
a field of growing corn or wheat. ac-
cording to L. D Ball OF the expert
ment station OF the Utah Agricultur-
al college. who recently issued a bull
letin on How 10 control the grass.
hoppers"
unfortunately the old idea per,
sists in many places that grasshop
per damage is unpreyentable, and rs
result some farmers still allow this
pest 10 destroy the crops unchal
leuged when a little foresight and
pains would entirely eliminate the
loss" writes Mr. Ball THE fact that
grasshoppers ordinarily appear in IL,
furious numbers only in irregular cy.
Giles of a considerable number OF
years is another reason why their
control is neglected. Often no watch
is kept and the danger is not recos
nized until the swarm is at work in
the field"
There are many erroneous ideas on
the distance grasshoppers travel in q
day, and Mr. Ball, after long obser-
Walton states that they viii average
about three quarters OF mile, under
favorable conditions. A popularity
OF their migrations is that they do not
turn aside, but always 20 straight
ahead, and their path through oat
fields is so well marked that in some
cases they have eaten all the oats aad
even the roots Of the plants,
There are many contrivances tor
catching grasshoppers for the bount,
paid by the state, and many Of these
have been very etiiCaNous 1t Is ad
yised however, that the place TO he.
gin destroying the pest is at the egs
and methods of spraying have proved
very good and are used in many 10
calities.
After they get their wings" Mr.,
Ball says, there is very little use In
trying to destroy them. The same
amount OF time and energy had better
be used in locating their eggs and de.
stroying them. Some adults have been
caught on the breeding grounds by
using q balloon and fast horse 20 as
to move very quickly, but most of the
captured are males. The destruction
OF few males in this way is Of very
little value, as It does not decrease
the eggs laid for another year. nor
decrease the damage a swarm would
do az the males feed very little after
the breeding season begins.
"To drive grasshoppers out Of or
chards. vineyards, berry patches and
like places is often the easiest and
quickest way to avert damage. Once
they are driven out onto other crops
they can be handled by ordinary
methods, Sometimes by a little in.
telligent driving TO one side or the
other, a swarm coming down from
the hills may be diverted sufficiently
to pass by an orchard,
''To drive them successfully one
must make use OF every advantage
possible. Drive down hill. or on a
level. with gentle wind and only
during the heat Of the day With
conditions favorable they are easily
driven If not hurried TOO much. The
best method Of driving them is %
take a moderately long willow polo
with the leaves on for about two feet
at the top and starting st the top Of
the field work back and forth at right
angles to the direction the hoppers
are to 20, crowding them over ono
row at time In this way they will
not be turned out and will continue
to move over each time the person
driving passes along BY this meth
cd a swarm can be moved over about
thirty to forty rods a day"