Milford chronicle., 1923-08-17
Letter to Owners
and To Farmers
Important Information as to Habits
of Japanese Beetle and Method for
determination.

In order to give the agricultural in
terests of Delaware the utmost pro
lection, and also in order that the
farmers may become more thoroughly
acquainted with the Japanese Beetle,
the State Board of Agriculture of Del
aware made a trip through the lntest-
ed districts of New Jersey few days
ago.
A large number of farmers were cal
led on, and the Japanese Beetle was
carefully observed at its work OF de-
struction, the farmers of course, real
ize the seriousness of this pest, and
are doing everything possible to COM
bat it, yet, they are by no means ready
to throw up their hands and quit
farming, they value their farms as
highly as ever, and feel that some et-
fective means will soon be found Tor
the control of this great destructive
pest.
Among the large fruit and vegetable
growers called on was Mr.. c l.. An
drews at MoorestoWn, N. j., one OF the
first things spoken of by Mr.. Andrews
in regard to the Japanese Beetle, was
that it was certainly very prollhc, ne
estimated that the Beetle increases at
least a thousand per cent during the
season. Three years ago, the Japanese
Beetle in New Jersey was more or
less a Joke among the farmers of New
ersey, last year they began to take
notice and this year 1t hurt' lhree
years ago the number was compara-
lively small, last year it was greatly
increased, and this year they came IN
millions. They begin to appear ABOUT
the 18th of June and apparently all
come at once, and their greatest sea-
son of destruction lasts about three
weeks to four weeks. The Federal ana
State Governments are carrying on
various experiments to combat thls
evil, and in some sections where they
fought the Beetle extensively last
wear it is claimed that they have 20
per cent less this year than last year,
however, the Beetle is at the presenT
time increasing in numbers by the NIL
lion and apparently travels about hVe
miles further each year.
Spraying or busting will drive them
from one part of the field to another'
or from one field to another, but up
to the present time no spray or dust
has been discovered that will XIII
them, and they have been known to ny
in swarms like bees, distance OF
mile and a half, from a section IhaC
was being sprayed to another secLon'
Mr.. Andrews advised us that one NOR
ming this year a part OF his orchaEu
was literally covered with Beetles ne
Immediately began spraying and IN a
short time, no beetles could be found'
the next day at 10 o'clock either the
same fack or another flock came PACK
to the same orchard, and apparently
settled themselves to destroy IT. How
ever, at 2 o'clock the same day, they
left and did not come back to that OF
thard any more. He believes Lnat Gust
ing will drive them away, but thaI
they will come back sooner than II
spray is used. He also advised tnaI
anv spray would at least drive them,
even muddy water, the spray that was
used, on the orchards where they dlO
not come back any more, was COM
position mainly of IL per cent Oh az
senate of lead to 200 gallons OF wafer
The Japanese Beetle will destroy |
all kinds Of fruit and veg
etables, although they seem to prefer
GHTLaln
that the Baldwin apple was among the
last in the orchard to be attacked, Dut
that the beetle seemed particularly
fond of the Yellow Transparent they
eat not only the foliage but the fruit
and will strip the leaves OF shade
trees. A single apple or peach has
been covered with beetles until II was
the size of a mans head. Fruit was
seen where the stem and core OF the
fruit would be al THAT was left atter
The Japanese Beetle had completed lGs
work. There was some difference OF
opinion as to the fruit attacked, some
claimed that defective, stung or bruls--
ed fruit was eaten first, others claimed
hat the most perfect fruit was the
most appetizing to them, they attack
The fruit Just at the ripening stage
he foliage they eat at any time.
The Japanese Beetle is particularly
,ond of the silk on corn, and twenty
our Beetles were counted on one hill
If corn. They ate the silk completely
,ff the ear. there is some difference OF
opinion as to the injury that this ooes
o the corn, depending largely on no"
we'll the corn is set, before the de-
,truction Of the silk begins. Some
armers advised that so far, tomatoes
potatoes and cabbage have been prac-
ically exempt from the attacks OF the
,eetle.
In the early fall the beetle goes in
he ground, particularly in sod' and
-oes below the frost line, apparently
.oing down from four to twelve in !
hes. 1t appears in the early spring IN
be form of a grub, and later develops
nto a beetle. One farmer advised that
e plowed his ground eight inches {
eep, in the early spring, and turned
10 SO many grubs that the ground
7as actually greasy in some places:
Ie had a large flock Of guineas and
hey came on the field and ate all they
ould; the chickens also filled up, and
nally the birds came in focks and
evoured all they could eat, yet the
rubs were still there by the millions e
nd not a one seemed missing. Poul- y
y will eat the grubs and also the 1
eetle after it has developed, and ap- 1
arently it does not hurt them, but 1
ome claim that the beetle Will Kill 7
lrkeys if eaten by them.
The State Board of Agriculture mas S
1me of these beetles in bottles OF al
ohol at the office in Dover, and will r
. glad to show the INTO anyone VINO T.
ants to see them. All persons In Del a
ware should be on the lookout for u
lis Japanese Beetle in this State, and u
lould become acquainted with what d