-5- 



5. If the storage area is not insect-tight (as is true of most closets, trunks, 

 and boxes), vacuum the container thoroughly and spray all inside surfaces with 

 0.5-percent diazinon, applied from a pressurized spray can. 



4. Cedar- lined chests are usually insect-tight, but all fabrics need to be insect- 

 free before storing. The cedar oil vapors destroy small larvae, but do not 

 kill the larger ones. As added insurance in cedar chests, you can spray the 

 inside surfaces as suggested above or use a fumigant material. Either naptha- 

 lene or PDB (paradichlorobenzene) is the fumigant commonly used in moth 

 crystals, flakes, or balls. Use at least 1 pound of crystals, flakes, or 

 balls for every 100 cubic feet of space. 



5. Woolens not placed in insect- free containers can be protected by treating in 

 light amounts with 0.5-percent diazinon, from a pressurized spray can, or 

 liberally moistened with a fluoride-base fabric solution. Protection will 

 last a year or more, unless the woolens are washed or dry cleaned. Caution : 

 Infants clothing should be washed or dry cleaned before use . 



6. Good housekeeping practices will help reduce the number of these insects. Clean 

 frequently to prevent lint and hair from accumulating, especially around radi- 

 ators, baseboards, heating vents, and closets, as well as beneath large furni- 

 ture and other hard-to-get-at places. If these places become infested, a light 

 application of 0.5-percent diazinon will insure protection. 



PLANT DISEASES 



New Septoria leaf spot infections are showing up on wheat plants. Some fields 

 examined this week had most of the lower half of the leaves severely infected. 

 The increase in this disease has occurred in the areas receiving rainfall during 

 the last week. 



Powdery mildew is heavy in scattered fields throughout the state. Fields with 

 high populations of plants and/or high nitrogen fertility should be watched. 

 Lodging can be expected in severely mildewed fields . 



Loose smut is showing in wheat and barley fields that have headed-out. Diagnostic 

 characteristic: The brown dusty mass of spores replaces the heads. The amount 

 of smut varies considerably from field to field. The use of seed saved from badly 

 smutted fields will result in a high incidence of loose smut the following year. 

 Lower smut usually results from using certified seed as it is produced in fields 

 with less than 1 percent smutted plants. 



Some alfalfa fields in east-central Illinois have been examined that show low- 

 temperature injury . Hints for diagnosis: (1) leaves of the same age near the top 

 of the stems killed from the tip and margins inward. (2) Older leaves showing no 

 damage or lesser damage. (3) New growth from the terminals showing no sign of 

 injury. The degree of injury varies from plant to plant. A period of cold weather, 

 with frost, occurred one to two weeks previously. 



WEDS 



Atrazine and oil applied as an early postemergence treatment can still be used to 

 get broadleaf and grass weeds, if you didn't get your preemergence herbicide on at 

 planting time. 



