204 THE POTATO 



the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station de- 

 scribes the insect as follows: 



"There are many kinds of grasshoppers, but the 

 species that become injurious have life histories 

 which are very much alike. The eggs are laid in 

 the fall in packets in the ground, containing from 

 thirty to a hundred eggs. Their position is about 

 an inch below the surface of the soil. The insects 

 appear to select places which are comparatively 

 dry in which to deposit the eggs, and we have found 

 most of them this year in patches of weeds and 

 grass under fences, and along ditch banks and road- 

 sides. The young hatch rather late hi the spring 

 and do not become full-grown until midsummer or 

 later. 



"Grasshoppers frequently injure potato fields 

 by invading them from the borders, but this is not 

 one of their favorite food plants. The most serious 

 relation of grasshoppers to the potatoes is indirect 

 rather than immediate. Potato growers depend 

 on alfalfa to renew and enrich the soil. The pres- 

 ence of grasshoppers in the fields newly sown to 

 alfalfa is disastrous, for they quickly destroy the 

 little plants and it is impossible to obtain a stand. 

 This prevents a proper rotation of crops. 



"The best remedy to employ during fall and 

 spring is the destruction of the eggs. The first step 

 in this work is to locate the eggs. Inspection 

 should be made everywhere in the surface of the 

 soil for the pods of eggs. When the infested areas 

 have been located they should be plowed deeply 

 to bury the eggs, or disked or harrowed very 

 thoroughly to break up the pods so that they will 

 be exposed to the ravages of birds and animals or 

 dried out before they have time to develop. 



