GRASSHOPPERS AND ALFALFA. 51 



The subject of prevention, then, will be considered under two di- 

 visions, methods of cultivation and means of destruction. 



ALFALFA CULTURE. 



Since it has been shown in the previous pages of this publication 

 that the conditions essential to the production of large numbers of 

 these native grasshoppers are two in number: an undisturbed soil for 

 the safe retention of the eggs, and an early food-plant for the nourish- 

 ment of the young insect, every one who is familiar with an alfalfa 

 field will readily see that in this field are two conditions which are 

 highly adaptable to the production of these insects. 



The problem which faced this department when attention was 

 called to the subject two years ago was, how to disturb the solidity of 

 the alfalfa field, destroy the eggs of the grasshoppers, and yet main- 

 tain the integrity and life of the plant. This is the problem which 

 was not readily solved, and after a solution was presented it did not 

 find ready acceptance. 



The mode of procedure was as follows : It was already known that 

 the alfalfa plant has a long tap-root, which extends many feet beneath 

 the surface ; and experiments showed that this root could be chopped 

 and split at the top, and yet the life of the plant maintained with the 

 same degree of vigor. The attention of the farmers had been called 

 to this fact, and they were strongly urged to disturb the soil of their 

 alfalfa fields with the disk harrow. Many were influenced to do this, 

 but some were of the opinion that the fields would be injured by the 

 process. A further discussion of the subject may be better set forth 

 by giving a detailed account of the work carried on upon the land 

 where the experiments of this department were conducted. Early in 

 March, 1898, Mr. J. H. Smart, following instructions, caused disk 

 harrows to be run over 160 acres of alfalfa ground belonging to the 

 firm of Ball & Goddard, for whom he is superintendent. I have asked 

 Superintendent Smart to give a brief statement of his work, manner 

 of conducting the same, and his opinion upon the results. Believing 

 that the same will be of great value to those interested, I have caused 

 it to follow : 



ALFALFA, IRRIGATION AND LAND COMPANY, 

 CATTLE BREEDERS AND DEALERS, KINSLEY, KAN. 



The good effect of cultivation as applied to alfalfa has been very apparent 

 this year on the land of the Alfalfa, Irrigation and Land Company, situated in 

 Edwards and Ford counties, and operated by H. E. Ball, of Topeka, Kan. In 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE V. First crop of alfalfa ; windrow in immediate fore- 

 ground. This ground was thoroughly disked in March. For details, see Supt. 

 J. H. Smart's letter, above. Land in Ford county. (Photographed by Hunter 

 on July 23, 1898.) 



