Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1926-06-03
Agricultural A
News Notes
(By j. L. shriver, County Agen)

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Rarberry Plants Menace to Grain
The common or European bar
| berry which has received so much
public condemnation because of its
reputation as an accompllce IN
/ spreading black stem rust of small
grain, has several relatives of the
same name scattered in the United
! States. There ARE some 40 or so
/ cultivated as ornamentals, and they
are all to be beA1regarded with sus-
| picion, says the United States de-
partment of agriculture, until def
nitely proved harmless.
Common European Variety
Heretofore but little attention
has been paid to any barberry, ex-
cept the common European variety,
now widely naturalized in this
country. During the last few years,
however, harmful native barberry
species has been found abundant.
This species is naturally suscepti-
Bile and spreads stem rust to grains
and certain wild grasses. In some
localities it is as much menace to
grain production as is the common
barberry.
Most of the species of barberry
have come in during the last ten
years as a result of the impetus
given the barberry as an ornamen-
tai by explorers in China. 1t is not
known definitely whether all OF
these species are harmful, although
it is reasonable to assume most OF
them are. In order to give the pub
lie the benefit of any Of them winch
may be harmless, the department OF
agriculture is gathering into one
"rogues' gallery" for future con-
victon or acquittal, representatives
of all of these suspicious members
of the barberry family, as we'll as
the Mahonias, a closely related
genus. 9
All will be grown in special
"barberry garden" recently estab-
lished at Bell, Md, and resultant
plants sent to testing stations at
st. Paul, Mimi, where they will be
inoculated with stem rust in order
to determine their susceptibility
and resistance or immunity.
This information about disease
carrying powers of all species of
the barberry family, is sought in or
der that dissemination of undeslra-
BILE foreign importations may be pre-
vented in this country. Some OF
these barberries@ are very desirable
ornamentals They will be given a
hasty pardon" as soon as possible,
if their innocence is fairly estab-
lished.
The japanese barberry does not
spread rust and should not be de-
stroyed.
Club News
All the members, but one, met at
the home of Nellie Conn, May IL.
After the business meeting all went
on a weiner roast The afternoon
was spent in taking pictures and
planning an ice cream supper. me
next meeting of the Bright Eyes
Clothing club will be May 22 at the
Hackney !. school building. Every
body come!
The Happy Seamsters met at
Westland school house, Thursday,
May 20, at one p. m. All members
were present, but one They made
arrangement for the community
meeting, played some games. Ihe
next meeting will be held at West
land school house, June II, at l p.
m. Program Dialogue, Marjorie
and Temple Dawson; comic reading,
Bernice Nolan; recitation, Gladys
BENJAMIN; music, Pearl BOYD, MIL
dred Reed; reading, Bernice MIL
Ter.
The Bean Beetle
The Mexican bean beetle will be
much more damaging in ~~Morgan
county this year than last year. The
adult beetles from last fall winter
ed over under leaves, trash, garden
residue, ETC., and some have started
their depreciation already. We
found some that had wintered over
in ferns and other house plants.
For the control of the bean
beetle. the recommendations pub
lished in the Herald and Democrat
of July 16, 1925, still hold for want
OF something better. standard
formula for dust is one part OF
calcium arsenate and nine parts OF
hydrated lime. Mix and apply as
dust when the dew is on. Be sure
that the dust is applied TO the under
side of the bean foliage as well as
on top. A spray may be used by
mixing three-fourths pound calcium
arsenate and one and IL pounds
of hydrated lime in SO gallons OF
water.
/ Several hardware dealers of the
county are going to handle small
dust guns that sell at a reasonable
price. These are satisfactory for
! applying the dust. In fact two or
three families can buy the duster in
partnership.
I Another dust that was tried last
year and looks very promising IS:
f, One part of sodium fiousilicate and
: two parts of lime. 1t looks prom
ising, but needs little more time
/ to prove It's worth.
Wool Securing
! A wool securing service is pro-
! vided and offered to the wool grow
/ ers and sheep breeders or Morgan
! county, by the United States depart
ment of agriculture. The per-
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