Pests and Diseases 185 



economic importance. 1 It is the leaves and not the mar- 

 ketable part of the beet that usually suffer ; therefore, 

 unless proper functioning of the leaves is prevented, the 

 injury passes without notice. 



Ordinarily, injury is not great if proper methods are 

 taken to prevent the incoming of pests ; but if no atten- 

 tion is given to them and if farm practices are followed 

 without regard to pest troubles, the damage is likely to 

 be considerable. For example, the nematode when in- 

 troduced into a region is usually unheeded, because of 

 which it gradually infests the soil, making beet-growing 

 impossible until suitable rotations are adopted. Insect 

 difficulties vary greatly from year to year. One year 

 grasshoppers or army-worms may devour everything in 

 their way, but the next year they may be absent almost 

 entirely. 



Whenever there is a serious outbreak of any pest or 

 disease in a locality, the State Agricultural College should 

 be called on for help and every agency should cooperate. 

 The sugar factory agriculturist and the county agricul- 

 tural agent will be able to give assistance with ordinary 

 troubles. When a new pest or disease appears, experts 

 from the State Experiment Station or the Department of 

 Agriculture should be summoned. 



Preventive measures for controlling pests. 



A few general precautions known and utilized by all 

 beet farmers would prevent a great part of the loss oc- 

 casioned by insects. Weeds, especially those belonging 

 to the same family as the sugar-beet, such as the dock, 



1 Forbes, S. A., and Hart, C. A., III. Exp. Sta., Bui. No. 60. 



