The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1923-07-20
eRASSHOPPERS
WORKING DAMAGE
Land Owners Getting Busy Decimal.
Ing the HOrdes OF Insect Pests by
Means of Poison.

II It is not one thing it is something
else to cause worry and loss to the
orchardist and farmer. They must be
eyerlastingly alive to head off the
rayages OF insect pests, while worry
Ing over climatic conditions that may
be mfayorable With the prospects Of
one Of the most favorable years the
country has experienced for decade
now comes the grassnopper pest to
work havoc in the valley. These raw
enous and active jumpers have done
no damage so far Immediately around
0roville, but they have appeared by
tae millions a few miles south in the
valley, and have wrought much dam
age around Palmer Lake, where it Is
alleged that an orchard owned by
VIM. ]. Ford, that promised a heavy
yield Of fruit this year, is practically
ruined. Those who have seen the or
chard states that the leaves have been
devoured from every tree and the ap-
pies are shriveling up. The trees may
retain their vitality and recover, un-
less there should be a severe winter.
Down the valley the hoppers are not
only eating off the leaves but are de-
vOuring the bark on the young trees,
which means their ruin. Land owners
aFa M or of
troy the pests by the use Of poison,
Il Is serious problem to handle the
grasshoppers owing to the expense OF
poison, and as no provisions were
made by the legislature to extend
state aid in purchasing poison it will
be necessary for the county to step in
and lend a helping hand. Commits
sioner Nixon is taking an active inter-
est in this campaign against the pest,
and through his efforts the county
will advance aid to the fruit growers.
1t will be remembered that the far
mers around the Nelson country were
threatened with heavy loss last year
and the year before from the grass
hopper pests, and the state made pro-
vision for supplying poison. Joseph
W. Claskey, of Nelson, had charge
OF distributing the poison at that time
and made an excellent job of 1t.
Learning from acquaintance the
presence of the grasshoppers in alarm
ing numbers in the valley Mr.. Claskey
at once offered the remainder OF the
poison ne had on hand, some $1,2OO
worth to those in the menaced terri
tory, and this has been distributed and
applied where it will do the most good.
Mr.. Claskey had a letter from Chas.
l. Robinson, state supervisor OF hor-
tculture, which reads as follows:
The legislature made no provision
Tor lighting grasshopper pests THIS
year so any work of any kind carried
on would have to be done by the coun-
lies so affected | do not know just
what can be worked out In this con-
nectiOn, but Senator French and my
sell will be in Oroville on Sunday
night, July Is, and if there is anything
we can do in that territory / think II
VIII be well to take il up at that time.
Mr.. Robinson and Mr.. French ar
rived here Saturday, and not Sunday
~ announced and met few interest
% persons among whom were COM
missioner Nixon and Horticultural IN
spector c. p. Willis. With the ROBIN
son-frenca party was Frank G. Mel
son, Horticultural inspector of Cheian
county and on his return to Wena'
.chee Mr.. Nelson gave out the follow
ing information to the World:
Mr.. Nelson says the Orovilit
growers are fighting the hoppers VIII
poison bait consisting of bran treatee
with sweetened Paris green. This mas
gwen good results, ne says. From o.
70 70 per cent of the hoppers nave
oeen killed where this bait has Deei
distributed.
"Grasshoppers are very difficult Il
.oinDat because they have as MANY "'
i've generations during summer
lhey breed on uncultivated land AM
'aen make their way into alfalfa fieid'
aud orchards. They girdle twigs AM
snaw the tender alfalfa shoots.
The principal difficulty is cleaning
item out in these breeding places
ms is task that must be undertak
en- by the county, Mr.. Nielsen says
Inc State has no fund for use III eiher
sencies of this kind. r. V. Nixon
eaairman of the board of commission
ers of Okanogan county, was preseh
al meeting of the growers with MI
french and Mr.. Nielsen at oroViiis
Mr. Nielsen says he believes the coun
y will take immediate steps TO assis
the growers"