The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-08-04
FARM NOTES BY
THE COUNTY AGENT

Reports are coming in that +he
sweet potato caterpillar has made its
appearance in the southern portion of
the county and in some fields has al
ready done considerable damage.
Starting this early in the season. the
chances are that it will do much SER
ious injury to the potato crop if not
checked. 1t will be well for all potato
growers to keep a close watch on
their fields and be prepared to fight
this insect as soon as it arrives.
The most effective remedy is arse
nate of lead at the rate of one pound
of the powder to so gallons of water,
with two pounds of quicklime added.
The solution should be sprayed on IN
the early part of the day or so that
there will be time for it to dry before
rain comes. If the lead arsenate
paste is used instead of the powder,
but two pounds to so gallons of water
with the same amount of quickliue.
Possibly an easier, and more conven-
lent way of applying the lead where
there is no sprayer at hand is to dust
the lead arsenate powder on the
plants early in the morning or late in
the evening when the dew is on them.
Corn sacks, or cheese-cloth bags, flour
sacks, etc., can be used and shaken
over the vines so that the powder will
sift down on them. With each pound
of powder mix two pounds of air
slaked or hydrated lime. About two
pounds of the powder, or four pounds
OF the paste, will be required for each
acre. Zinc arsenate will answer in
the place of the lead arsenate. Also,
the velvet bean caterpillar has shown
up earlier than for several years and
may occasionally affect the yield of
the bean crop. The remedy for this
is the same as for the potato worm
-
The time to cut beggarweed for hay
is when the head punches to bloom.
Cut at this stage the hay is of a bet
ter quality and the second crop will
be heavier than if the bloom and seed
are allowed to form. Usually the crop
is permitted to grow too old, and
many of the lower leaves have shed
off and the stems become woody. The
best hay from any crop is always that
made the most quickly and with the
least exposure to sun and air. Too
much exposure to run bleaches the
hay and also makes it less palatable
and less digestible. Nearly all kinds
of hay should be put in windrows at
least the day after they are cut, and
some of the lighter ones in the cock.
Beggarweed should be raked into
windrows as soon as we'll wilted In
order to avoid the loss of leaves that
happens when handled too dry and
placed in cocks by the second day,
When the cock is well cured. even
though not absolutely dry in the mid
l die, the hay should be hauled to the
| barn or stacked. First class beg
garweed hay is a superior article and
deserves more attention by Florida
farmers. Why should we want to
grow alfalfe when we have a plant
that is just as good, better suited to
our soil and climatic conditions and
much easier grown?
The campaign carried on in this
county last year against the corn
weevil was big success. Where the
cribs were made tight and the proper
amount of gas used the results were
almost perfect. No investment that
Florida farmer can make will pay
him any better than the money spent
in building a tight crib for CONTROL
ing the weevil. The use of carbon
bisulphide will positively kill the
weevil, but the crib must be tight.
i The experience of last year has en-
. phasized the Importance of paying at
tention to three points when treating
corn for controlling the weevil. The
crib must be tight for best results
corn should be allowed to go through
the usual sweat before it is treated
or the crib closed up, and the gas
should not be left in too long. Prob.
ably the corn should be left in the
crib with the doors open nearly three
weeks before the carbon is put in AND
the crib closed. 1t is also probably
best to open the crib and let the gas
out at the end of thirty-six to forty
eight hours. VIM. A. Seasons,
L