The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1922-06-08
HOW COMBAT ALFALFA
WEEVIL
Spraying Is Only Effective Rem
edy According to Agri-
cultural Experts.

Spraying is the only method OF con-
trolling the alfalfa weevil, large
number of deeply interested farmers
4 learned at the demonstration conduct
ed Saturday morning at the Charles
/ Cooper ranch on the lower bench by
/ Dan D. Whelan of the university ex-
( tension department. 1t was prac-
! tical demonstration, too, for the Wee
vii, and its ravages were plainly evil
dent
Mr.. Whelan said the weevil origi-
mated in Utah and experiments in com
batting the pests had been conducted
in that state since 1912. He discuss
ed briefly the habits, and life cycle
of the weevi! and the control meas
ures that had been tried. He conf
IDENTIFY asserted that spraying was the
only practical and sure method Of
control. Where proper spraying meas
ures have been taken, the method de-
commended by the department was
80 per cent efficient, and while the
weevil would not be entirely eliminat-
ed, the damage could thus be reduced
to practically nothing.
A spraying equipment was dem
onstrated. A preparation of calcium
arsenate, mixed with water in proper
tion of one lb. to every 80 gallons, is
used. This is thrown upon the al
falfa in a fine mist under a pressure
ofs 120 pounds. The machine costs
$500. 1t will cover 80 acres in a day. |
The expense during a 10-year period,
including cost of equipment and de-
probation, is placed at 16 cents per
ton of hay. Mr.. Whelan recommends
that four neighboring farmers COM
bine in buying one machine-it will be
ample to serve them all. If farmers
generally viii spray, on the same
scale as do orchardists, it viii not be
necessary to spray oftener than once
every two years. 1t is not improbable
that the next legislature will enact
laws compelling every alfalfa grow
er to spray.
Mr.. Whelan showed where to find
the weevil, and soon demonstrated
that there were plenty of them in the
field. He said that weevil wintered
in beetle form, being small elongat-
ed grayish brown bug little larger
than cinch bugs. In spring the beetle
Limbs the stem of the alfalfa and
ounctures and lays its eggs in the
stem. About two or three weeks be-
,ore time for the first cutting the
'sgs hatch and the little green worm
sscends to the top of the plant am,
,egins to feed on the top leaves and
Iround the seed pods. They were
ound by the hundreds at work in the
;ooper field. By keeping watcn the
,rowel can decide on the best time tc !,
pray, and that should be when the s
ggs have all hstched. The worm ap- !
ears on high lands first and on the {
over lands about week later. !
He said an alfalfa spraying attach s
nent could be put on an ordinary
rchsrd sprayer at a cos. something
Ike $40, but it would not give as wide
spread as -he machine especially
ai]t for the purpose and wonld break :
own more alfalfa. He said. however. O
e was not here to recommend spray 8
rs, but to urge that some kind be .
sed and that ali of the growers get Y
usy if they did rot expect the weevil E
, take their hay crops. The cost of Y
praying, including overhead on the
rice of the machine, solution saa sil. Ell ! . .
e placed at 65 cents per acre. Is
Mr.. Whelan asserted that there is s,
D danger of stock being poisoned e
'om eating hay that has been spray OF
|. He recommends that every ranch W
. write to the extension department
II a bulletin on the weevil and its m
ntrol. I'll
The demonstration was Of meal p
liable benefit to the hay growers OF W
is section and the farmers CT diff
rent sections should get together E
Id get sprayers to work. 1t is al al
ady late for this year, but there NJ
ould be sprsyer on every four OF hs
1e ranches next season. fo