Smyrna times., 1923-08-22
STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE
WARNS OF JAPANESE BEETLE
URGE ALL FARMERS TO BECOME
ACQUAINTED WITH SITUATION
If Once They Should Get a Start
Here They Would Increase By the
MilliOns-NO Known Remedy


interests 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
Delaware made a trip through the in
tested districts of New Jersey a few
days ago. A large number of farm
erS were called on, and the japanese
Beetle was carefully observed at its
work of destruction, the farmers of
course, realize the seriousness of this
pest, and are doing everything possi-
bic to combat 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 effective means will soon be
found for the control of this great de-
| structive insect. Among the large
fruit and vegetable growers called on
was Mr.. G. L. Andrews at MoOres-
town, N. ]. One of the first things
spoken of by Mr.. Andrews in regard
to the Japanese Beetle, was that it
was certainly very prolific. He esti-
mated that the Beetle increases at
least a thousand percent during the
season. Three years ago, the Japan
ese Beetle in New Jersey was more
or less a joke among the farmers of
that State. Last year they began to
take notice and this year it hurt.
Three years ago the number was COM
paratively small, last year it was
| greatly increased, and this year they
came in millions. They begin to ap-
pear about the 18th of June and ap-
| parently all come at once, and their
greatest season Of destruction lasts
about three or four weeks. The Fed
eral and State Governments are car
rying on various experiments to COM
bat this evil, and in some sections
where they fought the Beetle extern
sively last year, it is claimed that
they have 2536 less this year than
last year, however, the Beetle is at
the present time increasing in num-
bers by the million and apparently
travels about five miles further each
year.
Nothing Yet Discovered to Kill Them
Spraying or dusting 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
have been discovered that will kill
them, and they have been known tC
fiy in swarms like bees, a distance oi
a mile and half, from section that
was being sprayed to another section
Y Mr.. Andrews advised us that one
morning this year, part OF his or
chard was literally covered with Beet
les. he Immediately began spraying
and in a short time, no beetles couit
be found, the next day at 10 o'elocl
either the same flock or another focl
came back to the same orchard, an'
apparently settled themselves to de
stroy it. However, at 2 o'clock tn
same day, they left and did not com
back to that orchard anymore. II
believes that busting will drive then
away. but that they will come bac
sooner than if spray is used. he ais
advised that any spray would at leas
drive them, even muddy water In
spray that was used on the orchar
where they did not come back an
r more, was a composition consistin
mainly Of II pounds of arsenate
= lead to 200 gallons of wtaer. tn
Japanese Beetle will destroy pract
cally all kinds Of fruit and vegetable
altho they seem to prefer certa
kinds. Some farmers advised tn;
the Baldwin apple was among the la
in.the orchard to be attacked, but Il
beetle seem particularly fond of Il
Yellow Transparent. They eat, n
only the foliage but the fruit, al
will strip the leaves of shade trees.
single apple or peach has been cove
ed with beetles until it was the 81
IRE of a mans head. Fruit was Sc
bal where the stem and core of the fri
would be all that was left after t
japanese Beetle had completed >
work. There was some difference
'uL opinion as to the fruit attacked, sol
ls' claimed Chat the defective, stung
bruised was eaten first, others clai
ed that the most perfect fruit "
the most appetizing to them. Th
attack the fruit just at the ripeni
stage, the foliage they eat at q
ead time.
his Potatoes, Tomatoes, Cabbage, ESQ;
20 The Japanese Beetle is particula
ack fond Of the silk on corn and TWEEN
und four were counted on one hill Of &C
They eat it completely off the
There is some difference of opinion
q TO the injury that this does to
T. corn, depending largely on how '
q. the corn is set, before the destruct
S''' Of the silk begins. Some farmers
vised, that so far, Tomatoes, Potat
and Cabbage have been practically
empt from the attacks Of the beet
In the early fall the beetle goes
tho cr,or4vI no ~ o,rI IT,, WV ~