11 



last year. Whether this decrease in their numbers has been due to 

 parasites or to disease, I can not say. 



One noticeable fact in connection with the subject of insect depreda- 

 tions, in this particular region at least, is the growing interest which 

 the general public is taking, and the tendency on the part of the people 

 to help themselves against this host of insect enemies which is assailing 

 them on all sides. Whether this interest is traceable to any particular 

 source, or whether necessity is the awakening factor, I can not say. I 

 trust, though, that my work in this direction has not been entirely in 

 vain. 



BEET INSECTS. 



Ever since the Sugar Beet industry was first agitated here in the 

 West, and now especially since the project has assumed such a prac- 

 tical form, it has become of general interest. For several years now the 

 cultivation of the sugar beet has been a theme for much speculation, 

 and to some extent also of experimentation. Now that a large factory 

 has been built at Grand Island in this State, the sugar beet is to be one 

 of our regular crops year after year. It will no longer be a plant that 

 is grown out of mere curiosity or simply for experimentation. 



It has been ascertained in connection with the culture of the sugar 

 beet that certain insects show a tendency to attack and injure it. In 

 this respect the beet is not any different from other cultivated plants ; 

 or, for that matter, wild or native ones also. In fact, it is too evident 

 that certain ones of these insect enemies seem to prefer this "new" 

 crop to any of these which have been cultivated in the same region for 

 a considerable time. 



It was therefore thought here at the experiment station, early last 

 summer, that it might be well, as far as practicable in connection with 

 other lines of work, to give some attention to these insect enemies of 

 the sugar beet. Accordingly the following "press bulletin" was sent 

 out over the State: 



SUGGESTIONS IN REGARD TO THE SUGAR-BEET CULTURE. 



Keports from the sub-stations established in the spring by the State Experiment 

 Station for the purpose of determining tho effect of the varying conditions of the 

 soil and climate on the growth of and the production of sugar in the Sugar beet are 

 in the main good. 



In many places, especially in the extreme western part of the State, beets have 

 suffered from hot weather and a lack of rain ; as a rule, though, they seem to withstand 

 these unfavorable conditions as well as corn and better than small grain. 



Fiom some points reports tell us that insect enemies have begun their rav- 



As there are several kinds of insects that attack the beet, and as they have already 

 been reported as having begun operations, it seems the proper time to begin to learn 

 something of their appearance, habits, and the best means of meeting their advances. 

 To this end the beets should be watched very carefully, from day to day and at dif- 

 ferent times of the day, and even in the evening, for any insect, bug, or worm that 

 seems to have an interest in them; search the leaves, pull up the beets and search the 



