Agricultural Experimentation
in Box Butte
County
The Potato Stalk Weevil
Prof. Hunt hands us Circular No. 8,
Usucd Aug. i7i'oS, from the office of the
state entomologist, from which we make
tho following extract, which we think is
more timely published now than later in
the season:
Potato raising in Nebraska has for sev
eral years past been one of our important
agricultural industries, and many thous
ands of bushels of this tuber are shipped
from the state annually, while stilt greater
quantities aro retained for domestic con
sumption. The light sandy soil along the
Missouri in tho northeastern corner, and
the soil of tho plains bordering tho sand
hills on tho northwest, when intelligently
handled, aro remarkably well fitted for
tho profitable production of this staple
article of food.
The potato stalk weevil has long been
known as an important enemy of this crop
and has attracted n great deal of attention
from time to time, although many potato
growers have no conception of what tho
insect itself is really like, owing to its ob
bcure method of feeding.
In Nebraska It is probably found quite
generally over the state, but is pre-eminently
a pest in those regions where pota
toes are raised on a commercial scale,
notably the northeastern corner along the
Missouri and in the northwest, principal
ly in Sheridan and Uox Iiutte counties.
The former county suffered a severe in
festation of the potato stalk weevil during
tho year igoi, the crop being almost
ruined, and during the present season the
writer found almost all early potatoes in
the northeastern corner of tho state to
have been greatly reduced in yiold by its
presence.
The potato stalk weevil is a small snout
beetle. Its general color is a light gray,
wliich is caused by a covering of tiny
scales of that hue; beneath this covering
the insect is jet black. One of the most
conspicuous chaarcters of the beetle is the
presence of three black spots at the base
of the wing coverts. The grub or larva,
tho stage during which the damage is
done, Is also pale in color and has a dark
colored head, When full grown it is from
one-third to one-half an inch in length
and is without legs.
Some time during the spring, cither the
latter part of May or early in Juno, de
pending upon the latitude and the weather,
the beetles begin their egg-laying for tho
new brood. This is accomplished by
making a small slit in the stalk in which a
single egg is deposited. According to Fa
villa and Parrott these eggs hatch in from
7 to n days and the young grub immedi
ately begins to work its way downward
toward the root, As it eats and grows In
size the channel which is made Is grad
ually enlarged until it occupies the entire
pith cavity. Right here is where the
damage is done, this channelling interfer
ing with the How of sap and causing the
plant to wilt. In this latitude the beetles
become adult during August. They re
main within the potato stalk during the
winter and emerge in the spring through
the holes cut by the larvae.
Potato growers as a general rule attri
bute the wilting of plants, due to the
work of this weevil, to blight or dry weath
er, and the effect of this infestation is us
ually called "blight" by them. Whether
or not the wilting is caused by the pres
ence of the weevil or by drought may be
easily ascertained by cutting the stalk
open.
Owing to the fact that this insect passes
the winter within the old stalk of the pota
to tho matter of its control is rendered
very simple. In the fall, just after or
just before the crop is removed, the field
should be thoroughly harrowed in order to
pull the vines with their roots, and these
should be raked into piles and burned,
thereby destroying all weevils contained
within. Some growers have made a prac
tice of mowing the vines and burning
them; this method fails to get a largo per
centage of the beetles because of the fact
that the portion of the stock in which the
Insect is contained is often below where
the sickle cuts it oil, leaving it still in the
ground. To secure the best results from
this method strict cooperation among
growers is essential. A single field in
which the above directions are not carried
ont will furnish enough beetles to infest a
considerable area in that vicinity, so that
the efforts of those who had attempted to
eradicate the pest would be fruitless.
Potato Bugs
For the first time in many years these
insects are doing considerable damage to
the growing crop. This part of the state
has been singularly free from its invasion.
The present activity is undoubtedly due to
the warm, dry weather we have been hav
ing. It is very rapid in its development
and In the damage it works. If its ravages
are to be checked so as to save the crop in
infected fields, immediate action must be
taken. A delay of only a very few days
will result in irreparable loss. At present
the damage is confined to a comparatively
few fields, but there the onslaught was so
sudden and unexpected that it escaped
observation until it was too late.
The Colorado potato beetle is the Insect
that does the greatest damage. The ma
ture beetle does practically no barm. The
injury is done by the several forms of the
PROF. E. W. HUNT,
DIRECTOR
insect through which it passes from tho
egg to maturity. Tho "slugs," as the
young, unarmored forms of the beetle are
called, are voracious feeders and, appear
ing in such incalculable numbers, soon
strip the plant of foliage.
There aro several methods recommend
ed for combating the pest to which I wish
to call attention here and suggest the best
way of using them.
ARSENICAL TOtKONINU
(a) By using parts green: Some per
sons put one pound of parts green in fifty
gallons of water and spray or sprinklo the
vinos with the mixture. When using it in
this way it is necessary to keep the mix
ture at all times thoroughly stirred, so that
the poison may be equally distributed.
Unless this stirring is well done, soma
plants will receive too littlo while others
may receive enough to do damage to the
leaves by burning them. If two pounds
of caustic lime nre slaVed and mixed with
the pads green this danger of burning
may be prevented. Lime that has been
partly slaked is worthless for this pur
pose. (b) Uy using paris green with bordeaux
mixture: To make the bordeaux mixture,
incloso four pounds of copper sulphate or
bluo vitriol in n cloth sack; suspend it in
twenty-fivo gallons of water until dis
solved, Mako a smoothly (lowing lime
paste by slaking six pounds of unslaked
lime in a littlo water, using care that there
be water enough to prevent tho lime from
burning, then gradually dilute, stirring all
the time, until there is twenty-five gallons
of the lime solution. This solution should
bo in a separate vessel from tho copper
sulphate solution. These should bo run
together into the spraying barrel, being
constantly stirred, and used at once as the
mixtura becomes valueless after standing.
To this mixture add one pound of paris
grceu. Properly made bordeaux mixture
with paris green added, will control both
potato bugs and potato blight without in
jury to the foliage. It will also secure in
creased yields of tubers even when neither
bugs nor blight are present,
(c) By using lead arsenate with water:
Some people prefer lead arsenate to paris
green because there is not so much danger
of injuring the foliage by carelessness, and
because they think It adheres to the leaves
better. To use, dissolve one pound of
Swift's arsenate of lead in -fifty gallons of
water and uso as directed for paris green.
(d) Uy using Sodium Arsenate. To
prepare, put two pounds of white arsenic
and eight pounds of sal soda in eight gal
lons of water and boil till the arsenic is
dissolved. This will usually take about
fifteen minutes. Replace the water
evaporated by boiling. Keep this mixture
in tightly stoppered jugs labeled "poison."
Use one quart of this to fifty gallons of
bordeaux mixture.
(u) By usisg arsenite of lime; To pre
pare, boil together one pound of white
arsenic, two pounds of unslaked lime and
one gallon of water for about forty-five
minutes, or until the arsenic is all dis
solved. This makes a stock solution which
will keep in good condition for a long
time. The vessel containing it should be
labeled "poison" and kept where it will do
no harm. Use one quart of this to fifty
gallons of water.
(2) Gathering and killing the bugs:
For this purpose place a stout hoop in the
opening of a grain sack so as to hold it
open. Place the open mouth under and
to one side of the vine, and with a brush
or a large whisk broom jar the slugs into
the sack, and afterward kill them by
drenching with kerosene oil. Where only
a comparatively few of the vines are in
fested, this is undoubtedly the best way in
which to handle them. It will do no good
to kuock them to the ground and cover
them with dirt as in a few minutes they
will creep out and climb the vine again.
I cannot too strongly urge all potato
growers to keep a sharp eye on their grow
ing crop so as to note the first arpearance
of the bugs, and take immediate action.
A short delay gives them such a start that
they become a serious menace.
Sometimes the vines are infested with
the blister beetle which are troublesome,
but rarely do serious damage. These, if
they become too numerous, may be driven
away from the field as they fly readily and
are easily frightened, or they may be
poisoned by either of the above methods.
Sometimes the bite of the beetles causes
some inconvenience, as it usually raises a
large blister, which may develop into a
bad sore. I know of one instance in which
septicaemia developed and the victim died
from blood poisoning.
Have you n farm to sell or exchange?
It costa only a cent a word per day to
run an advertisement in The Omaha
Bee. It will reach over 40,000 sub
scribers ami is almost sure to find a
buyer. Write today.
Before ordering anything in the lino
of office supplies of traveling salesmen
or mail order houses call up the West
ern Office Supply Co., and let them
show you samples. Phone 58 or 340.
If you need help of any kind, tell as
many people as possible. There are
more than 40,000 people who subscribe
for Tho Omaha Bee. You can tell
them all for one cent per word per day.
Write toda
Lawn Swings at The Gadsby Store.
26-tf
Neighboring Notes
From Mitchell Index:
Mrs. M. Bristol returned Wednesday
from Tbermopolis, Wyo, Mr. Bristol met
her at Alliance.
President Morey of the Great Western
Sugar Beet Co., and several of the di
rectors and others visited the North Platte
valley on Tuesday, coming on a special
train and making stops and Investigations
of the country at Torrington, Mitchell,
Scottsbluff and we presume other points.
They slated that the location of tho pro
posed factory is not yet fully determined,
but the supposition is that if the required
acreage can be secured they will build a
factory somewhere in the valley this year.
It is to secure this acreage with the idea
of having a factory built at Scottsbluff
that the people of that town are now mak
ing a special effort. Tho sugar factory
men went from this valley to Sheridan,
Wyo.
From .Mln atari; Freo Prosst
Miss Ethel Bowman came homo from
Alliance to spend the Fourth,
Robert L. Alkire was a passenger for
Alliance Tuesday, to return the following
day.
Alex "White went to Alliance Saturday
to meet his nephew, Jimmte White, who
has come from Havclock to visit his grand
father and aunt.
II. L. Nehne went to Alliance to meet
Miss Emma Roth, who came out here
from Switzerland to visit her brother,
Albert Both.
Two automobiles from Alliance, gotog
to Scottsbluff, broke down In the Abe
Smith neighborhood Sunday.
From Hushvlllo Standard:
Roy Beckwith and wife came over from
Alliance Monday to visit his brother and
family and on Thursda went to Neligh
for a visit with other relatives.
Miss Wilma Wood came over from Al
liance Sunday evening on the train. On
Monday her parents came across country
in the automobile and Miss Wilma joined
them on their camping trip up on the Ex
tension. W. W. Woods and wife automobiled
over from Alliance Monday and went with
Dr. Wilson's family up north of town for
a week's camping out. Mr. Wood runs
his auto like an expert.
Prom Crawford Courier:
Professor Hunt of Alliance came up on
the Burlington Thursday afternoon, going
to Chadron in the evening where he will
meet Wm. E. Curtis of Chicago, and S.
L. Miller and Mr. Walters, general freight
and passenger agents of the North-Western
R. R. The party left Chadron Friday
morning for Lander, Wyo. Prof. Hunt
accompanied the party in tho interests of
western agriculture.
From Huyurd TraiiRcrlpt:
John King returned home Saturday from
several weeks' stay in Alliance.
Dan Dullard, wife and son, Clifford,
are visiting friends in Alliance this week,
They left Wednesday.
Cook Bracken, salesman for the popular
Newberry Hardware Co., of Alliance, was
in town the first of the week.
Link Lowery of Alliance was in town
the first of the week on business. Link
established quite a "rep" as a horseshoe
pitcher while here. '
Jack Grimm Is another one of the good
people from this vicinity who was looking
after business in Alliance Wednesday
and Thursday,
Mrs. S. J. Holdridge accompanied Mrs.
T. F. Watkins home from Alliance last
Sunday for a few days' visit. They drove
through and it is needless to say that they
got off the road, or ran up against fences
with no gate in sight. However Mrs. H.
says the B. ft M. will be good enough for
her going back.
MARSLAND.
(Received too late for issue of July 8th)
A nice shower fell Saturday and it was
needed very much.
Tom Hunsaker is clerking for Bellamy
& Miller this week.
The new hardware store adds very much
to the looks of Grand avenue.
The patients at the hospital are doing
well and some of them have gone home,
Mr. Clatterbuck's new residence is
nearly ready for the plasterers and paint
ers. Geo. Gregory and family took in the
4th of July Saturday and Sunday at
Crawford.
Mr, Bellamy has been beautifying his
park and has just added a new fountain to
the same.
Mr. Hesser is building Mr. Clatter
buck's new house and doing other carpen
ter work in Marsland.
Tom Squibs has sold his blacksmith
shop to Gene Kenderlcks, who will attend
to the shop after this.
The new druggist, Mr. Hanson, ar
rived Monday and is doing business at
the old Willis place on Grand avenue.
The new furniture and hardware store
on Grand avenue is neatly finished with
a glass front and will soon be running full
blast.
B. Furman, the banker, will have his
new residence ready to occupy soon and
J
Piano Bargains
For the next thirty days we will offer high-grade pianos at bargains
never before heard of in Alliance
We have some special d? i ff on easy
bargains as low as P JJ payments
If you contemplate purchasing a piano it will pay you to see us while
this Special Sale is on
For particulars call on the
G. A. Crancer Piano Company
1st
1,
we all will expect a royal welcome when
we call,
Trussell and family, Woodie, wife and
child, Hoffman and family, Gregory and
family, Ellsworth and family all went to
Crawford Monday.
Mr. and Mrs. Bask and children went
to Crawford Saturday to celebrate the 4th
of July and they got caught in the big
shower Saturday evening.
Mr. Bellamy is building another new
house, it being situated on Park street.
It is a neat little cottage and will add very
much to the appearance of the street.
As a compliment to the dear old Herald
it is said to be one of the very best papers
in the state to place your advertisements
in. Just gtvo it a trial and see the busi
ness men of Marsland take notice.
What the Editor Cannot Do
Don't think because the reporter
sees you getting on the train that he
ought to know who you are and where
you are going, or if he sees you greet
some friends that he knows who they
are and where they are from. We aim
to get all the news, but you may be
the one we don't happen to know. We
try to become familiar with names and
faces if possible, but during the years
past we have beeu to church and failed
to see you there; we have hung around
the town pump, but some of you were
not there; we have loafed on the street,
we've even risked our reputation on
back streets, but you weren't all there.
And we'll be hanged if we know where
tp find you all. So if you are going or
coming or know anybody cutting up
queer capers, let us know. Norton
(Kan.) Telegram.
Horses Wanted
To pasture. Grass and water, good
and plenty, one mile west of town,
tf A. R. Wilson.
BRENNAIST'S
SANITARY
FOUNTAIN
It couldn't be better
IT'S ZBEDSOT
Conrad Koch
Jewelry
and Watch Repairing
Special attention given to
RAILROAD WORK 1
BRENNAN'J
I DRUG STORE
LEGAL NOTICE
To J. II. Wyatt, V. N. Corneal anil Harney
You and each of you nru hereby notified
that 011 tho 4th day of November, 1007, I. tho
undersigned. John Keefe. purchased at
public tax sale of tho treasurer of Hox liutto
County, Nebraska, the following described
premises situated In liox t utto County. Ne
braska, towtt: Lot No.10.ln Ulook No.27,orlgl
nal town of Alliance. Hox liutto County, Ne
braska, for the taxes for tho yoars liws and
lOOd. aud O. . Itroniian. then County Treas
urer of Hox liutto County. Nebraska, Issued
treasurer's certificate of tax salo No. it there
fore, and 1 have since paid as subsequent
tuxes after same became duo and delinquent,
tho taxes for the year. KW7 and IPOS; that said
land was taxed for yean. I103, iwti uud 1W7 in
thonunioof J. H. wyutt, and for tho year
I0OS In the name of W.N. Corneal.
You and each of you uro further notified
that after tho oxplration of three mouths
froradatoofservlcoofthlsnotlceth.it 1 will
nuply tp tho treasurer of Hox liutto County.
Nebraska, for a tax deed for said Lot No. 10.
In Hlock No. 27, original town of Alliance,
Dated this 7th nay of July. 1809
John ICkekk,
. . , l'nruliascr and Owner of
FpJulyb-Jt said CertHIcuto.
SPECIAL
door west of the Jollo theatre
irA. jSI. BOSS, aimuior
lAcheson Bros.
J Refrigerators
Ice Cream Freezers
Gasoline Stoves and Ranges
St- j
OPERA HOUSE BLOCK I
Palace Livery Bam
IT. T?. COTJJRSISY, J?x-op.
(Successor to C. C. Smith)
ONE UloCIC WEST-OF
THE NK V ZHINDEN
Ill'IMHNG. 'Phone
LEGAL NOTICE.
To U.zlu Jackson:
You tiro hereby notified that on tho 4th day
of Novmnl.er, l(H)7. I. tho undersigned, John
ki'cfo, puri'liuseil ut public tux sale of tho
treasurer of Hox liutto County, Nebraska,
tho following described premises situated lu
Hox liutto County, Nebraska, towll ; Lot No.
Il.in Hlock No. . original town of Alliance,
llox liutto 1 ounty, Nebraska, for tho taxes
for tho years UH)3 and llKX), and C. V Hren
111111, then County Treasurer of ltox liutto
County. Nebraska, Issued treasurer's certifi
cate of tax sale .No. 311, therefore, and I have
Mneo paid as siibseouent taxes after sumo
b cumo duo and delinquent, tho taxes for
tho years l!K7 and HHjs; that said land was
taxed for years 1H03. 1IHW, 1007 and' uxs In tho
niiiiio of X.lzlo Jackson,
You aro further notllled that after tho ex
piration of three months from date of sorv
leo of this notice that I will apply to tho
treasurer of Uox liutto County, Nebraska, for
11 tax deed for said Ixit No. 11. lu Hlock No.
'X, original town of Alliance, Uox liutto Coun
ty, Nebrnska.
Dated this 7th day of July. woo.
Jo, n Keefe,
,, . , , . Purchaser and Owner of
Ip July 8-It said Certificate.
LEGAL NOTICE
In tho District Court of Box Uutte County,
Nebraska.
In Matter of the Guardianship n, , , ...
of Adella Uamsdell, an Insane 0r" f to Wl0w
person. cause
Tho cuuso camo on for heurlug upon the pe
tition of Krank II. ltamsdell. guardian of tho
person and estate of Adella Hamsdoll, an In
sane person, praying for a license to sell tho
south Half of th HouMipnst. (nft,r ii: ui.'iii
I and South Half of (Southwest Quarter (SM BW
U) of Section Flvo (5) in Township Twelve (is)
N. Kango Thirty (30) West. In Holt County. No-
niuaiui.ui a Buuicimii uuiuuni or me samo to
pay tho sum of twelvo hundred eighty dollars
(J12POO0) for the pajmeut of expellees Incurred
In the support, treatment, care and mainte
nance of sauliwurd.thero not being any person
al property and tho Income of said ward biiug
lnsulllclent to pay thusald debts and expen
ses, and maintain the .said ward.
It Is, therefore ordered that tho noxt of kin
and all persons Interested in said estate up.
pear iMiforu uie ut ChumberB at O'Neill. Ne
braska, on tho 29th day of July, 10011 at nlno
o clock A. M. to show cause v. y a license
should not bo granted to said guardian to sell
so much of thu above dexcrlhcd real estate of
said ward as shall bo necessary to pay said
debts and expenses. I specify that this order
bo published in The Alliance Herald, 11 weekly
newspaper, published at Alliance In said
county for three weeks prior to tho date of
said hearing.
Dated Juno 23th, 100K. J. J. Haiuiinoto.v,
fp July l-lw Judge District Court.
CONTEST NOTICE
DHI'AltTMKNT Or THE INTEHIOU,
IT.NITKIJ 8TATKS LAND OFFICE.
Alliance, Nebraska, Juno 12, lOOtl
ni .fuljlctent contust adldavlt having been
filed In this olhee by Harry Derr. contest
ant, against homestead Entry No. 01(113.
made October :tOtli. loos, for S. V. 4 section
?i . ",?l,cl.,05 17 K- W o' section
18. township 21 :N .of range 52 W. of. the dtli 1.
Meridian, by Kllert Stlndt. Contesteo. in which
It Is alleged that the said Ellert Stlndt duos
not reside on tho said laud and has no build
ings or Improvements thereon aud that he has
abaudonod the same for more than six inontlnt
prior to the duto of this contest, said parties are
hereby notified to appear, respond, and offer
evidence touching said allegation at 10
0 clock a. in. on July 23, jnmt K.foto tho
jteglstor aud Itecelver at tho United Htatos
Land Oflico at Alliance. Nebraska.
.... wW contestant having. In a proper
aflldavlt, filed Juno 7. lPOU, set forth facts
Wlllf'h klmw , lia, iiffn. .!.. .nil ,
-"" unci MUU UUIKCIICO JHT&UI1IU
service of this notice cannot he made. It Is
i-iruj uruuruu unu directed mat such notice
bu given by duo uud proper publication
fpJunol7-5w V. W, vooii, Heglster.
OltDI-lt FOII 1IEAIIING
Stats of Nebraska. Hox liutto County-ss.
. . .. u . '-""". um ui 1110 county
Court Itriom In ....M ,....,, .1... ..i t, "JL
Juiio. HVlt ' "" v"uor,, "ny ot
rrosent u A. Herry, County Judge.
mjI inuMuitor of thu Estate ofNuucrC.
Watson, Deceased. ..
On reading the petition of Francis M.Wutson
Arti.RJfi,A5.fcf-Bra,,t0fl tu A,lu" a iioliw
Ur5i?cu' '""'.said IK-'tlH'-n will bo heard on
all persons Ititero-ied In said citato may ut
pear ut County t ourt on said date, and show
tauso If any tnere io why .. petition should
......, u...,,m,u won. lion.-, 01 mo pend
ency if Kfllfl rwitltlnn ... I n..l.ll ....rvV
given to all porsou unci.-.,! u ,tia mutter
11 """"' u copy ui ui.s order 111 TI10 Al
llauco llurnld. a wcukly newspaper published
fin said county for three succusslvu weeks
prior tosiild heurlutf. J A. Hehuv.
fp July l-aw Cauuty Judge.
1
I
Good turnouts, strict attention to our business,
and courteous treatment to all has won for us the
excellent patronage we enjov. Trv us.
B
Stockmen
Farmers
San
We cordially invite you to
make our office your head
quarters when in Alliance.
Big- rest room. The daily
and weekly papers on file.
Easy chairs and a good,
clean place to rest.
Remember, when you have
land for sale that we have
a big organization and can
sell it for you.
Buyers and Sellers
We get them together
eeeeei
Phillips
Thomas Land Company
Ora E. Phillips Lloyd C. Thomas
D. M. Thomas
Combination Jack
anchmen
Li f ter ,
Post Puller,
Splicer and
Wire Stretcher,
most useful tool on a
farm. Can be seen
and tested at
604 Yellowstone Av.
Alliance, Neb., by
L M. E. Anderson
A
... -waorifcii,J..aaBBMifcMan smut.,avv.khi