PLOWING TO KILL INSECTS 77 



Land infested with billbugs should always be plowed 

 in the late summer or early fall. Plowing at this time 

 breaks up the winter lodging of the bugs. A study of 

 the life of billbugs shows that they also live on many 

 different types of grasses. Therefore, it is necessary for 

 the eradication of the billbugs to plow infested grass 

 fields lying next to the other ground. 



These instances are citations to show the necessity for 

 studying the habits and f characteristics of insect life 

 before one can successfully combat it with the use of 

 the plow. The loss that is sustained by farmers on 

 account of the destruction of such bugs as the boll 

 weevil, white grub, wireworm, grasshopper, Hessian fly, 

 cutworm, army worm, etc., is estimated by some authori- 

 ties in excess of five billion dollars annually. 



To kill some of these insects it is necessary to plow the 

 ground while other very important tasks occupy the 

 attention of the farmer. The necessity for a means to 

 do this work at the proper time arises. The solution of 

 the problem lies in the means the farmer has in his hands 

 for doing this work when the time comes. 



A great deal has been said about crop rotation for the 

 control of insect pests. All this is good but the first 

 thing in the eradication of bugs of any kind whatsoever 

 is to plow the ground thoroughly, seeing to it that all 

 trash is buried deep, leaving none on the surface. Of 

 all types of insects that can be eradicated by plowing it 

 is far better to turn the stubble under immediately after 

 the crop has been harvested than to burn it. All of this 

 trash represents a vast amount of fertility that has been 

 taken from the soil, and is much better for the ground 

 if it can be put back as humus. The best and most 



