The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-07-20

rustling when touched or blown by
the wind.
Fields observed early in June look
ed as though they could not possibly
produce a crop. These fields are now
comparatively free from mites, due
probably to the effect of rains or light
showers; they are headed out, but
injury is still apparent and it is safe
to estimate the reduced yield in some
of them are at least one-half of the
crop.
We are informed by the United
bureau of entomology that this severe
infestation of wheat by mites is with
out precedent in the United States.
The injury occurred over such large
area and developed so rapidly in Idaho
this year that control has been out of
the question and work has been carried
on with the idea in mind Of formulat-
ing practical methods of preventing
ia recurrence of the injury in future
years.
1t is probable that mites were dis
tributed generally throughout grain
fields in southern Idaho hast year but
not in sufficient numbers to cause
injury or to draw the attention of ar
mers to their presence. They are so
extremely small that they could be
scattered throughout grain field by
thousands and 60 unnoticed unless in
terest were drawn to them through
injurious effects upo wheat plants. 1t
is true that this year we have mites
in many grain fields where they are
doing no injury and where their pres
ence it not suspected by the farmer.
Furthermore. it is not improbable that
mites have existed on wheat in this
state during other years in the past
but owing to some favorable combina-
ton of climatic conditions have be-
come a pest only during the last year.
1t is definitely known that mites in
general thrive best during periods of
dry weather. Their great abundance
this season may be partially due to the
very long dry spell last year. 1t is
worthy of not that this year. since
rains have occurred oh some of the
extremely severely infested fields, very
few mites can be found.
Significant is the fact that severe
injury to wheat this year has occurred
only on land that was cropped last
summer and reseeded to fall or to
spring wheat. Also. injury to fall
wheat is greater than to spring wheat
on this same land. In absolutely no
instance. observed or reported, has
severe injury occurred on land that
was summer fallowed last year.
It is true that mites can be found
generally this year on wheat sown or
land that was fallow last season but
| they are not numerous, are not doing
injury and they probably spread from
other land.
1t cannot be said definitely that thi.
pest will be a menace to wheat II
future years. Knowing that it is dis
tributed over hundreds of thousand
of acres of the best wheat lands il
Idaho; that, with weather conditions
favorable to it. it is likely to do ia
more injury in future years and be
!! lieving that injury from it can b.
prevented by rational farm practice
. we make the following recommends
tons to the grain growers, especiall
y on dry land.
Cd Pillow stubblc land this year a
soon as possible after wheat is re
moved Practice, summer fallow o
plant to cultivated crops for one sum
mer before reseeding to wheat.
II (2) If you feel you must reseed t
: wheat this fall, pillow grain land a
! soon as possible after removal G
E crop this year and keep ground thor