ALFALFA CULTURE AND INSECT 

 LIFE 



Prop. S. J. Hunter, Entomologist in the Kansas 

 State University, who spent three seasons in the alfalfa 

 fields of western Kansas, making a close study of 

 insedls in relation to alfalfa, states his observations 

 and conclusions succindlly to the State Board of Agri- 

 culture as follows: 



"The peculiar adaptation of the Arkansas valley 

 to the luxuriant growth of the alfalfa plant has caused 

 the conversion of large areas of that fertile region into 

 alfalfa meadows. Wherever we find the natural food- 

 plants of a region so largely supplanted by one form 

 we find there changed conditions and interesting prob- 

 lems, both from the agricultural and the biological 

 standpoint. 



"In 1897 letters bearing upon these changed con- 

 ditions were received, and it seemed highly important 

 that these inquiries should be fully answered. Accord- 

 ingly, in the fall of 1897 Edwards and Ford counties 

 were visited, and a careful study of the conditions 

 existing there at that season noted. With the encour- 

 agement of the farmers of the region, it was decided to 

 begin the following spring a careful study of the rela- 

 tions existing between alfalfa and insect life. These 

 investigations continued throughout that season, and 

 were resumed again this year. The subjedl-matter of 

 this paper, then, is based upon the pradlical results of 

 the three seasons' study in this region, together with 

 a survey of territory to be named later. 



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