The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1919-06-13
TWO FARM CROP PESTS

L
lookout for two pests which occa
sionally do considerable damage t
crops in this section. One is tn
Army Worm" and the other is tn
Seventeen Year Locust"
The destruction wrought by the arm
worm is familiar to everyone becaus
of its ravages in certain sections dur
ing the last few years.
Advices from the Michigan Agricul
tural College are to the effect that tn
cold backward spring which we hav
just experienced tends to aid the de
velopment of the army worm. I'M
statement does not mean that thes
weather conditions hold in check tn
parasites which prey on the worn
in normal season.
There are some of these worm
present every season, but under or
binary conditions the parasites ar,
present in sufficient numbers to keel
them down so that they do not ge
in their destructive work to an ex
tent that is noticeable.
We do not anticipate any great raw
ages from this source providing thu
farmers are on the lookout and report
any outbreak which seems to be get
ting start.
In looking for the worms it is best
to keep watch of the grass and grair
and if the stalks of these plants are
found with the leaves stripped off it is
best to look rather closely for worms
which are about one and one-half in
ches in length. The body is striped
with yellow and brown and often with
some red. If the stripped plants are
found an investigation after dark with
lantern will best reveal the worms
as the bulk of their work seems to be
done at that time.
The seventeen year locust is due to
appear in Michigan this year. The
appearance of this insect has, in times
gone by, excited considerable fear,
but at the present time its habits are
so well known that it's coming is more
of curiosity than anything else. AS
a matter of fact there is only one
place where the locust does any par
ticular harm and that is to the young
trees and shrubs which have been
planted. The injury comes from the
fact that the eggs are laid in open
ings made in the mark of the twigs.
In places where the locust is present
in large numbers sufficient openings
may be made in the young trees to do
them permanent injury.
The name, seventeen year locust,
comes from the fact that it takes that
length of time in Michigan for it to
develope to the point where it is full
fiedged insect. The intervening sew.
enteen years between the times of its
are spent on the roots of
trees and shrubs and at the end of the
resting period it comes to the SURFACE
for few weeks in May and June. Ac-
cording to the information at hand
the insect is disappearing gradually
Each appearance seems to be marked
by a considerable less number than
the previous one.
In appearance the seventeen year
locust is about one and three-fourths
inches long and three-fourths inches
wide at the widest part. They are
broad-headed, broad bodied and have
clear wings. They usually appear in
quite large numbers when found in
given locality. The Entomology De-
partment of the Agricultural College
is very anxious to keep in touch with
localities where this insect is found
this season and if anyone discovers
anything that looks suspicious in Shia-
wassee county, report to the County
Agent will be appreciated.
Considerable interest is being taken,
by the farmers of the county, in the
meeting to be held at Bancroft on the
evening of June 10. The Cooperative
Association which is to
be considered at this meeting is a
new thing in Shiawassee county and
it's outcome is being watched CLOSELY.
The directors of the Live Stock
Shipping Association are holdlns
meetings with Mr.. George C. Raviler
of the Agricultural College to dis
cuss plans for financing and carrying
on the organization.
The Bancroft Shipping Association
has done large business in shipping
live stock since it's organization and
the farmers feel that it has meant
savings of hundreds of dollars to them.
The directors feel that with the
office help that is necessary to carry
on the Shipping Association that it
would require only a very little more
to take care of the purchasing of sup
plies in large quantities.
The only thing that stands in the
way of broader organization to do
this work is the matter of sufficient
funds for operating expenses.
Mr.. Raviler's experience in this line
Of work extends over a period of a
number of years, during which time
ne built up one Of the most successful
in the country. His
to the directors of the Ban
croft Association will make it posi-
Die for them to work out some plan
for successfully financing and operat-
ing the new enterprise.