Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1920-07-15
HESSIAN FLY AND GRASS
HOPPER

Mr. F. B. Milliken, specialist in En-
tomology stopped in Trego county
Wednesday on a trip of inspection
to learn what damage is being done
by grasshoppers and by the Hessian
fly. On account of the rain and bad
roads he was unable to spend much
time in the field. However, he fur
nished the following information
which will be of interest to the people
of the county.
There is a light infestation of Hes
sian fly all through the main wheat
belt of Kansas. 1t is in Trego coun-
tvs wheat, some fields that were ex-
annined being 20 per cent infested.
The extensive infestation is unusual,
and may be attributed mostly to the
large amount of volunteer wheat.
Unless the farmers unite to check it
this fall it is likely to destroy
large part of next years crop.
To check the fly this fall it will be
necessary to plow by August IS, and
six inches deep if possible, to bury
the fax-seeds now in the stubble
and prevent the escape of the fly. All
volunteer wheat should be destroyed
so the flies that do get out viii have
no place to lay eggs. Wheat should
be seeded this fall on the hy-free
date or as soon afterwards as possible.
In the north part of the county this
is October 2; in the south half Oc-
tober 3.
If united effort is made to carry
out the recommendations that are
given above the Hessian fly may be
brought under control. Otherwise,
it's damage to next years crop is
likely to be the heaviest ever known.
The possibility of loss can be avoided
with certainty only by united effort
this fall. Nothing can be done after
the wheat is seeded.
Grasshoppers are damaging crops
in many places in Trego county. This
will become much worse in alfalfa
and corn the summer advances,
and they will destroy wheat around
the edges of fields this fall.
Farmers must learn to fight grass
hoppers. Our climate is suited to
them, and they injure crops oftener
than they are absent. The state leg
islature has provided way for farm
ers to secure aid in fighting them.
Where five township trustees in a
| county request it in writing the Coun-
| ty Commissioners must supply ma
terials for making the poison bran
mash or grasshopper bait, and to
adopt regulations governing its dis
tribution to farmers. (See Session
Laws of 1917 and 1919
The grasshopper bait is the best
means of killing grasshoppers. It's
formula follows:
/ Bran pounds
White arsenic or Paris Green pound
/ Syrup quarts
Lemons or
/ Na+a- -.1Io-.
/ Mix the bran and poison dry Put
the syrup and fruit juice into the
water and add the rind after running
it through a food chopper or a sau-
sage grinder. Pour the liquid owe,
the bran and poison, stirring unit
it is evenly wet. When properly
mixed a little water drains to the
bottom of the bait, so it must b<
stirred frequently as it is applied.
The bait is spread by sowing i
broadcast SO the amount made from
20 pounds of bran will cover from
to acres. To do this take onl,
!, about one tablespoonful in the hane
and while walking rapidly throw i
from four to six times both ways
When applied this way it is NOR.
effective against grasshoppers, arm,
worms and cut worms than when ap
piled otherwise; also, not birds fowl.
or stock can pick up enough to xii
them.
Il Poisoned bait used against hopper.
now will save crops in which they ar,
working. However, next year i
| should be used about June whenevez
the young have Matched. Tt is mucl
easier to kill them then than after
they have scattered, and the cost i,
less.
Circulars both Hessian fly ant
grasshoppers, describing methods O
, control much more fully, can be OBJ
tanned by writing H. Umberger, Dear
| of the Division of Extension, of Prof
Geo. A. Dean, Department of Ento