6 



tsame way. Mr. Watson has conversed with many prominent growers 

 throughout southwestern Kansas, and finds them all in favor of disk- 

 ing for better growth of alfalfa. This being the case, here is an ex- 

 cellent opportunity for the "killing of two birds with one stone." 

 The disk-harrow placed at a slight angle is bound to move the soil, 

 disturb the egg-pod, and expose the eggs to the rain, sun, and action 

 of frost. Upon this subject we take the following from the late Dr. 

 C V. Riley, then chief entomologist for the United States: 



Harrowing in the autumn, or during dry, mild weather in early winter, will 

 prove one of the most effective modes of destroying the eggs and preventing future 

 injury, wherever it is available. It should be enforced by law wherever the soil 

 in any region is known to be abundantly stocked with eggs. A revolving harrow 

 or cultivator will do excellent service in this way, not only in the field, but along 

 roadways and other bare and uncultivated places. The object should be, not to 

 stir deeply, but to scarify and pulverize as much as possible the soil to about the 

 depth of an inch. Where the cultivator is used, it would be well to pass over 

 the ground again with a drag or a brush harrow for this purpose. 



Large areas are now given to the growth of alfalfa. As much as 

 400 or 500 acres of alfalfa can frequently be found in one plot. From 

 such large and favorable breeding grounds it is possible for grasshop- 

 pers to come forth in myriads, devouring everything vegetable in the 

 locality. If perchance the migratory Rocky Mountain Locust pre- 

 dominates, communities remote will suffer as severely. 



Let the disk harrow be applied, and after it run the common harrow, 

 with teeth slanted at right angles to the direction of the disk harrow, 

 and the destruction of the eggs is assured. Fortunately the best time 

 to do this is late in the fall, when the time of the farmer is not so 

 urgently required in other lines. 



General Remedies. — There are many ways in which farm practice 

 may prevent injury from insects, and the intelligent farmer will be- 

 come familiar with successful means of prevention as well as discrimi- 

 nate use of insecticides. He finds the possession of a good spraying 

 pump, "hopper-dozer," necessary chemicals, and a thorough knowl- 

 edge of their successful application, necessaries. He will have 

 acquired sufficient literature pertaining to the subject to enable him 

 to act immediately, not awaiting information while depredations are 

 in rapid progress. 



Natural enemies are always at work. In the case of the 'hopper, 

 as well as many others, the destruction comes too late to benefit the 

 farmer. Death from tachinid flies comes after the eggs are laid. 

 When 'hoppers are plentiful, should their parasitic enemies and 

 others destroy 50 per cent, of them, enough females would still re- 

 main to insure very appreciable injury the following year. Upon the 

 farmer then rests the burden of protecting his crops. 



