Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1937-12-02
Aggressive Program
Ann'nced To Retard
Japanese Beetle

a program ana policy Tor retard-
ing the Japanese beetle, which pro-
vides for participation of individuals,
communities and county governments
with the State, has been approved by
the agricultural council Of the
University of Maryland, it is announ-
|ced by DR.. Ernest N. Cory, state ento-
mologist. The State will assume
leadership in the program, he states.
Control and retardation work is to
be done in all lightly infested areas.
Large scale demonstrations are to be
made in heavily infested areas to edu-
cate the public in methods and means
Iof retarding the multiplication of
Japanese beetles. Where practicable,
all retardation work is to be done on
a cooperative basis between the State,
Federal government, County and indi-
viduals or local governmental units.
So far as State funds are concerned,
the cooperative work will be done on a
$3.50 basis in 1888, except for super
vision; that is, for each dollar that
the State spends, some individual or
local unit must match the State ex-
|penditure in either money or labor. In
addition, there will be spent $4,000
on $3.50 basis by the Federal gov
eminent and State for inspection and
certification, making a total sum to
be expended in equipment and services
of approximately $3.50, 900.
DR.. Cory states that well informed
opinion holds that unless vigorous re-
tardation measures are started next
year serious damage from the Japan
csc beetle may be expected in many
sections Of the state.
General supervision Of the entire
program will be under DR.. Cory and
he win be assisted by DR.. George S.
Langford, who will have charge Of
operations. q
DIR. Lanugford classes the Japanese
beetle as the most serious insect with
which the people Of the cities and
towns have ever had to DEAL and a
menace and threat to agricultural
prosperity. at is capable of blighting
parks, ornamental gardens and golf
courses" he asserted. From the
standpoint of defoliation of plants, he
said. its damage may be compared
with that of the Mexican bean BEETLE.
The important difference in damage
from the two insects, he declaredS is
that the Mexican bean beetle feeds
only on beans, or few plants related
to beans, whereas the Japanese beetle
feeds on more than 200 different
plants. A few of the more important
agriculture crops attacked are: Corn,
|soybeans, apple, peach, cherry, plum,
grape, beans, asparagus, raspberry
and strawberry; such shade and orna-
mental trees as elm, linden, cherry,
willow, poplar, pin oak and Norway
maple. Garden ornamentals, such as
rose, dahlia, hollyhock, Gamma, aster,
marigold and zinnia are fed upon
readily. Lawns, golf greens and pas
ture afford ideal breeding areas for
the grubs and are frequently damaged
seriously. s.ai
According to DR.. Langford, control
is expensive and losses may be large
In heavily infested areas. he states,
the average annual expenditure on q
few items are: City blocks, $62.s0 per
block; sweet corn, $500 per acre;
apples, $7.15 per acre; peaches, $3.50
per acre; estated, $51S per. estae; golf
courses, 1913 per course; cemeteries
$225 per unit. The average damage
in heavily infested districts has been
determined for the following: Field
corn, $500 per acre; sweet corn,
$3.50 per acre; early apples. $l23 per
acre: early peaches, $154 per acre;
general farms, $1.76 per acre. =,
Maryland University ~.