The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-04-21
Japanese Beetle Threat
To Crops

County Agent, j. 2. Miller an
nounced today that another ia
panese Beetle outbreak is only
slightly more than sixty days away.
Beetles are on the increase in the
county and it is expected that many
farmers will suffer crop losses again
this year. Corn, soybeans, grapes,
fruit and shade trees were badly
/ damaged in many sections of the
county last summer.
Mr.. Miller says that every farmer
in the county should begin now to-
think about and plan his control
activities. A state wide control pro-
gram has been organized and will
| be in operation in Maryland. The
program is based on the generation
+; of State, Federal and local author
titles with the people.
The question that Mr.. Miller
wants answered is whether the
farmers of Cecil County want to en-
ter into this control program. He
needs this information at once If
the necessary equipment needed to
cooperate is to be obtained.
Last year parasite were .olonized
and demonstrations on control were
made in the county. The several
phases cf the demonstration and
control activities included trapping,
spraying, lawn treatments, agricul-
tural adjustments and planting
plans. The parasite colonization
work and agricultural adjustment
activities are going forward in a
sound way and on the basis of
long range program excellent results
are expected. Last year there was
considerable desire on the part of
many farmers and others in the
county for traps which were not
available This was due to the fact
that sufficient funds were not avail
able to furnish all people with traps
who wanted them. However, trap
ping demonstration was conducted
in the county to- show farmers and
others just what the traps were like
and what they would do in the way
of catching beetle. Approximately
533 barrels or Al tons of beetles
were caught.
| According to questionable sign
ed by all farmers using traps this
past year, 95.1 percent thought that
the traps were. effective in catching
beetles, that the program was sound
and that it should be continued;
l - 10
traps, and "a percent were poncom-
initial. Mr.. Miller states that If the
farmers of the county are interest
ed in a beetle control program this
year he will make every endeavor
to arrange fer it. Sufficient money
is not available to take care of the
free distribution of traps to all who
want and need them, but a plan
has been proposed whereby the
State, County and Federal Govern
ment cooperate in buying efficient
traps to make a loan of traps with
in limit to all farmers purchasing
traps; that is, for each trap pur-
chased by farmer loan OF trap
will be made.
Not less than 1 trap for each 5
acres of open land should be used,
however in instances fewer traps
may be used advantageously. Last
year in the trapping demonstration
/ trap for each acre of open land
was recommended
In an effort to obtain public re-
action to the proposed program, a
meeting was held Monday night at
the Court House. Most of those pres
ent expressed desire for the pro-
gram In addition to this, Mr. Miller
has sent cards to farmers in the
county asking them to express an
opinion If the farmers and others
in the county want the program they
should fill in these cards and re-
turn them Immediately. This is alb
solutely essential because it is get
ting rather late in the season and
if traps are to be bought and deliv-
cry obtained ON time, the. program
must be decided upon within the
next few days.