Alfalfa in Kansas. 157 



A study of this table reveals the fact that grasshoppers and gophers 

 are the most troublesome in the western third of the state, and as one 

 progresses eastward their relative importance decreases. On the other 

 hand, the troublesome weeds and grasses, foxtail and crab grass, in- 

 crease as one progresses eastward, the same being true with webworms. 

 Reports of Russian thistles, dodder, prairie dogs, sandburs and native 

 grasses practically all come from the western third of the state, while 

 those of cutworms come chiefly from the eastern and central thirds of 

 the state. (See pages 332 to 400.) 



Grasshoppers. 



The depredations of the grasshopper in the eastern third of the state 

 are not regularly serious. The damage usually occurs in the late sum- 

 mer or fall along the edges of the newly-sown fields, in a strip, say, one 

 to three rods wide. As one progresses westward the damage becomes 

 greater; parts of new fields are sometimes destroyed, and the insects 

 are especially injurious to seed crops. 



Marion county: "They spoil some seed nearly every year and often 

 take parts of new fields." 



Dickinson county: "In 1914 they took eighteen acres of spring seed- 

 ing after it was cut once." 



Ellis county : "One of the greatest obstacles to growing alfalfa in west- 

 ern Kansas." 



Ellis county: "Thirty acres eaten bare last spring." 



Rawlins county: "I have had them take the seed crop, and sometimes 

 almost take the hay crop." 



Pratt county: "My worst enemy." 



Wichita county: "We have had them keep the alfalfa down all sum- 

 mer, after the first crop." 



FIG. 141. A flock of turkeys in an alfalfa field is said to be an economical means of 

 fighting grasshoppers. They destroy the grasshoppers and thrive on them. 



