11 
last year. Whether this decrease in their numbers has been due to 
parasites or to disease, I can not say. 
One noticeable fact in connection with the subject of insect depreda- 
tions, in this particular region at least, is the growing interest which 
the general public is taking, and the tendency on the part of the people 
to help themselves against this host of insect enemies which is assailing 
them on all sides. Whether this interest is traceable to any particular 
source, or whether necessity is the awakening factor, I can not say. I 
trust, though, that my work in this direction has not been entirely in 
vain. 
BEET INSECTS. 
Iiver sinve the Sugar Beet industry was first agitated here in the 
West, and now especially since the project has assumed such a prae- 
tical form, it has become of general interest. For several years now the 
cultivation of the sugar beet has been a theme for much speculation, 
and to some extent also of experimentation. Now that a large factory 
has been built at Grand Island in this State, the sugar beet is to be one 
of our regular crops year after year. It will no longer be a plant that 
is grown out of mere curiosity or simply for experimentation. 
It has been ascertained in connection with the culture of the sugar 
beet that certain insects show a tendency to attack and injureit. In 
this respect the beet is not any different from other cultivated plants; 
or, for that matter, wild or native ones also. In fact, it- is too evident 
that certain ones of these insect enemies seem to prefer this “new” 
- crop to any of these which have been cultivated in the same region for 
a considerable time. 
It was therefore thought here at the experiment station, early last 
summer, that it might be well, as far as practicable in connection with 
other lines of work, to give some attention to these insect enemies of 
the sugar beet. Accordingly the following ‘press bulletin” was sent 
out over the State: 
SUGGESTIONS IN REGARD TO THE SUGAR-BEET CULTURE. 
Reports from the sub-stations established in the spring by the State Experiment 
Station for the purpose of determining the effect of the varying conditions of the 
soil and climate on the growth of and the production of sugar in the Sugar beet are 
in the main good. 
In many places, especially in the extreme western part of the State, beets have 
suffered from hot weather and a lack of rain; asarule, though, they seem to withstand 
these unfavorable conditions as well as corn and better than small grain. 
From some points reports tell us that insect enemies have begun their ray- 
BOOS ee 
As there are several kinds of insects that attack the beet, and as they have already 
been reported as having begun operations, it seems the proper time to begin to learn 
something of their appearance, habits, and the best means of meeting their advances. 
To this end the beets should be watched very carefully, from day to day and at dif- 
ferent times of the day, and even in the evening, for any insect, bug, or worm that 
seems to have an interest in them; search the leaves, pull up the beets and search the 
