Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 274, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 November 1919 — Page 2

r—— —* UNDREDS of mllHons of H dollars of tribute are to be levied by enemies witbin our midst. Just when we looked confldently forward to the restoration of peace it brought home to ns that we have got to do ‘battle with other kinds of foes that cannot be halted by threat or the pa>rade of armed forces. Our nntagonlsts this time are hordes of the boll weevil and the army worm. From Washington comes the news that the army worm has appeared .again in Texas and that It has started to work its way northward right through the regions where our wheat fields flourish. It isn’t a problem of .guarding against the vast swarms which may have their origin in the far South, for those particular worms will really have but a circumscribed sone of aggressive movement; the task is .■to watch for them every where. The mildness of the past winter has favored the survival of many insects that .otherwise would have been killed. Therefore extra millions of these insects are alive and multiplying their kind. The army worm la particularly destructive te wheat, corn and other cereals, grasses and kindred forage plants. It is known to attack corn in e manner similar to the well known corn-ear worm. The young larvae devour the tender folded leaves and, as the worms Increase In size, they fre-1 iquently burrow right into the heart of the growing ear and destroy It. As far back as 1797 mention is made in a natural history of the army worm’s hurtful ways. During the summer and fall of 1845 the army worm busied Itself in Florida, and ten years later it aroused apprehension. According to the entomologists there may be from two to three generations of the army worm during a single summer. And the same experts assure us that each succeeding generation usually becomes more destructive than that which preceded it. The authorities are commonly agreed that the army worm, especially the fall army worm, is of southern origin, and this fact helps to explain why it does not appear yearly In conspicuously injurious numbers. Its instinct prompts it to strive continually to obtain a foothold farther north than its natural range, and here is where weather conditions play, an Important part in its life history and its propagation in higher latitudes. Ordinarily, if the season is against them, they are killed apd winter and therefore compara- ’ lively few are left to multiply theft , kind the fnllowtpg spring and summer. The early appearance of the army worm in Texas may justify the fear that states considerably to the north have become restocked by the flight of the parent moths from the southern breeding grounds in the warm swamp lands. The moth which produces the fall army worm is a member of the night-flying variety, and is of the* same family which Includes the parents of the baneful cut worm, an importation from the old world, with long years of American acclimatization. It Is the habit of these nocturnal moths to develop their eggs in clusters on grasses, but when jJUjpse .pc-. cur in very large numbers they do this on leaves and twigs of , trees as well as 6n the outer walls of buildhugs. The eggs are laid In lots of, from fifty to sixty. The larvae at first are frequently so dark as to escape observation, except when moving in j numbers; eqjd..their whereabouts are i further concealed by the normal habit of hiding in the deep grass during the day time and feeding mostly at night. This explains why one may go to bed with his field, garden, or lawn unmarred, only to arise at dawn to find the place devasted. The mature army worm ranges from an inch to an Inch and a half in length and is about a quarter of an inch through. The life history of the army worm is not a long one. The first of the larvae or worms are from eggs deposited the fall before. Their manner

Monotonous

Judson had run a genera! store for 20 years. The same bld dust was on the shelves, and much of the original stock. When the place became a summer resort Judson hung a red lantern of the Chinese variety in the middle Of bls celling as a concession to the summer trade. The second day the lantern was up a woman spied it and bought it k Judson put up another lantern, and

ARMY WORM and BOLL WEEVIL

by Robert H.Moulton.

of wintering is of Interest. When full grown the larvae work their way into the ground to a depth Hinging from a quarter of an inch to an inch and a quarter. In the spring the worms appear, work their havoc and, after a brief while, re-enter the earth. They remain in the cocoon state for several weeks, at the conclusion of which they emerge as moths, which, in their turn, lay eggs and start again the evolutional life of the army worm. In the period of its active career the army worm can do a deal of damage, and to eradicate the pest it is essential to kill the parent moths as well as to destroy the worms themselves. Luckily, the army worm has some natural enemies, and among these the sparrow is probably the most effective because of Its numbers. The bluejay comes next, and then follow the tachina fly and a certain variety of beetle. These foes will not suflice to keep the army worm within bounds when their name is legion, and it is needful then to resort to man-made expedients. Trenching the fields, a generous use of kerosene and ample, spreading of arsenical powders will aid in a crisis, but clean cultural methods will do much more toward eradicating the hibernating or slumbering pesjs. This is to say, keep the edges of the fields and the hedges of the gardens free from long grass and weeds, where the larvae lurk; fall plowing will kill those that have already entered the -ground for xvtntertng. Of efforts will not. avail if the ■ parent .moths .come, from the South in the springtiTtie-TVeearihotexpect to’ detect the eggs and" to destroy them before the worms are hatched out. Just when the spindles of the world are preparing to resume their prewar activities, just when so many of the nations are anxious to obtain more cotton fabrics, comes the unwelcome news that the cotton boll weevil is up and doing with increased energy. Again we have the past mild winter to thank in large part for this disturbing state of affairs, a very considerable percentage of the hibernating weevils having survived when with colder weather they would have been in great measure- -ext-ertwmated:-- ■ ■ • - ’ The experts tell us that the boll weevil in a single year may occasion a cotton loss of more than 400,000 bales, and at prewar prices this would represent a money sacrifice of quite $^3,000,000. Today, at the present price of cotton, the toll levied by these Insects would be equivalent to fully $70,000,000. No wonder the United States department of agriculture has pronounced the boll weevil to be the worst cotton pest in this country and, probably, the most destructive cotton insect In the world. This ravaging creature apparently will not feed upon any other plant—it just insists upon eating the precious cotton boll. Like many others of the conspicuously injurious insects present In this country, the cotton boll weevil Is not a native of the United States. Its. place of origin, so the entomologists

another. As fast as he hung them, summer guests bought them up for decorative' purposes? Finally the limit of Judson’s patience was reached when the last woman came In and tasked for a lantern. “I ain’t goln’ to order no more,” he said decidedly. “Why?” %sked the woman. • “There ain’t no sense in it Can’t keep a durned one of ’em in stock. As fast as I get ’em in some blamed fool woman comes tn and buys ’em.” —Dallas News.

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER. IND.

declare, was beyond question In the high plateau region of Mexico or Central America. The records Indicate that the insect in all likelihood occasioned the abandonment of cottongrowing In parts of Mexico and Central America. Our agricultural authorities inform us that since 1894 the boll weevil has extended its range from 40 to 70 miles, having made its first appearance near Brownsville, Texas, in 1892. During the first ten years after its advent into this country the annual rate of spread was 5.640 square miles. Since 1901 the annual infested territory has averaged 26.880 square miles. In 1904, an exceptional season, 51,500 square miles became infested. The weevil has a periodic thirst and apparently there is just one liquid that appeals overwhelmingly to its palate. On the underside of cotton leaves, on the midrib, or principal vein, and sometimes on two other veins, can be found a little elongated depression which usually looks sticky arid frequently holds a drop of liquid. On the outside of the squares at the base of each bract or leaflet are other little cups, and between the bract and the bud itself are three more cups. At the bottom of the flower cup still more of these tiny vessels are found. They are called nectar cups because they exude a sweet liquid. This is the tipple that the boll weevil is drawn to. The adult boll weevil Is about oneTouFfh bttt ’’O' size depends upon the amount of food that It contains while in the larvae stage The boll weevil passes the winter in the adult condition. In the spring and throughout the fruiting season of cotton the eggs are deposited by the females in cavities formed by eating into the fruit of the plant. An egg hatches under normal conditions in about three days and the grub immediately begins to feed. In from seven to twelve days the grub passes into its pupal stage, corresponding to the cocoon of butterflies and moths. This stage lasts from three to five days. Then the adult issues and in about five days begins the production of another generation. Males and femsk* are-produced in about equal numbers. The males feed upon the squares and. the bolls without moving until the food begins to deteriorate. The females refrain from depositing eggs in squares visited by other females. As many as fifteen larvae have been found in a single boll. A conservative estimate of the progeny of a single pair of weevils during a season, beginning on June 20 and extending to November 4, is 12,755,100! Government authorities have shown that the boll weevil can be held greatly in check by proper cultural processes and also by the use of insecticides which can be sprayed upon the plants at certain stages of their growth. By the latter process the weevil’s drink can be poisoned, and as it slakes its thirst at least once every day its i doom crin be sealed.

Many Have Wished That.

His big brother had just been discharged' from service and Tom was especially interested in the treatment the soldiers received topfceep them well. He listened while his brother told him how the doctor had Inoculated him against typhoid fever. “Gee!” he exclaimed suddenly, remembering the Tittle trip to the summer cottage, whiteh he had just where the mosquitoes had been especially active, “I wish I could get 'noculated against mosquito bites."

Home Town Helps

EASY TO DRAIN FLOWER BOX Simple Arrangement Which Will Prevent Lamage to Post on Which . Receptacle is Set. The home mechanic is often called upon to build flower boxes to place on top of newel posts, and other porch columns. To prevent rot and to maintain a good appearance, iv is best to drain the flower box, as shown in the picture. The box is lined for a part

of its depth witli tin or zinc, and drained through a one-inch tube to the downspout, or over the edge of the porch. A triangular piece of window screen placed over the drain opening will prevent clogging of the pipe Popular Mechanics Magazine.

BEAUTIFYING THAT BARE SPOT

Ferns Particularly Adapted for Growth in Garden Spaces That Seem There is perhaps no plant grown which appeals to the refined taste of the gardener and lover of plant life as the fern —with its wonderful grace of form and variety of color shading. Few people realize what charming effects can lie obtained at a very small cost with the aid of our native wood ferns. We admire them when they are seen in their native cool and shaded haunts, but we do not realize they can easily be transplanted and will quickly contribute to the beauty of our lawns and gardens; Ferns may be found in the woods of almost every state in the Union. Around every house, whether in city or village, there are shady spots where grass and flowers will not grow. We look at these bare and uninviting places and wish something could be done to make them attractive. Take a day off. go to the woods, and with a-trowel dig up some ferns, secure as many varieties as possible, plant them in the prepared bed, the larger varieties at the back, the more delicate in front. It does not require so many for a start, as they multiply rapidly. Keep them moist until thoroughly established. Late in the fall cover with leaves. In the spring do not remove these leaves from the bed, as they help to hold the' moisture. Enrich the soil and give the ferns more of their native conditions. Thus • the former unsightly spots will have become places of joy and beauty.—Thrift Magazine.

An Evil and Its Cure.

—lnterest In Kansas City’s efforts to rid itself of the billboard nuisance try where the citizens are awake to the importance of maintaining urban and suburban (HsfrictsTn a condition of tidiness and beauty. The absurdity of spending great sums of money for good highways and other public improvements, and then allowing them to be heavily discounted by the presence of glaring and unsightly signs and pictures, is too well understood and too obvious , to call for detailed argument. It appears that what is chiefly needed in order to gain relief from the aggressive billboard, in any city in the United States, is definite and rigorous local action. St. Louis has met with success '4ft +hls-*direct4-on, now Kansas City is following in its footsteps, and many other centers might wisely fall into line. —Christian Science Monitor.

Plants Trees Along Roads.

Dr. J. E. Westlake, of Virden, 81., has started a campaign in behalf of fruit tree planting along the public highways. He favors the planting of a fruit tree on every mile of the country roads and suggests that the Boy Scout organizations serve as guardians of the trees after they are planted. He estimates the cost for the county would be about $12,000. He has launched a similar campaign in other counties of the state. —Chicago Journal.

All Wind.

Henry Watterson, the famous exeditor, was talking about politicians. “Take the wind, the guff, out of a politician,” he sdii, ‘‘and what remains? “A noted politician’s wife was listening to her husband over the telephone. Five, ten, fifteen minutds she listened patiently. Thep she said : “ ‘Excuse me, Charles. Just a moment. I want to “change the receiver to the other ear. This one’s so tired.”

Duty at Home and Abroad.

When yon are in the„city boost your locality, but when you are out of the city boost your city.

IN A JAPANESE WOODMEN'S CAMP

Japanese Woodcutters’ Camp in British Columbia.

A LAZY creek, almost currentless through salt marshes, at low tide quite deep in its muddy bed; a salty, weedy, slightly smoky, cedary, and piney smell upon the air; windrows of kelp and other weedy drift upon the slithering slope of bank; squirt of clams, In every fairly flat place, and rippling scuttle of flounders upon the bottom; drifting moons of stray medusaeluminous in the water—there is a typical woodland setting in northern British Columbia, says a writer in the Christian Science Monitor. The crow is übiquitous, not unlike a raven; beloved he is of totemic designers and carvers, from Tillamook up to Nome, calling his hoarse “caw” from the shadows of some disheveled cedar. On the high water mark of spring tides, ragged cedar and pessimisticlooking hemlock in silhouette against the sunny blue, purple-courses with raven-like shadow the distant mountain side. At the base of the irregularly standing timber, spared of loggers, an impenetrable thicket of sallal, salmon and button berry, blackberry bramble and whortle berry, under a taller growth of alder, willow and poplar, together mask a tangle of fallen trunks and upturned roots, amid which the epilobium, the fireweed of the Pacific coast, overtops a man’s head, a spire of vibrant pinkly purple flame. At the forks of the creek, a wide eaved bunk house, its foundation posts lifting its floor well above the dampness of the marsh, stands upon a bit of ground where solid soil, washed down from the heights, supports rank grass. Rapidly built throughout of cedar, walls and roofs of split cedar shakes, in weathered redness it has a fitness to its place. Smaller shacks near, in color and size, match piles of cordwood near the water; awaiting a scow, a favoring high tide, and transportation across the water to the city. The Ever-Welcome "Chow.” A scrap of straw matting and a momentary glimpse of a short and sturdy figure, round and black of head, the bronze skin in quiet contrast with blue 'overalls, shelved it to be a Japanese woodcutters’ camp. Tlie sun was high and the shadows short by the time the sketch was finished. An eruption from the woods and cordwood piles toward the bunk-house suggested possible refreshment, if the'calling of the dish-pan, banged with a stick of firewood at the door, did not. There was too much good sketching about for the artist to want to return across the harbor for such an inconsequential thing as lunch, which, however, would quite likely suggest Its lack some time between then and the sundown he knew he would linger for. So, portfolio under arm, he strolled to the bunk house. _—•—_

Within, on were two* tiered bunks against the walls, stopping short of the further end, which, stove beneath the end window —a rear door letting in breeze and sunshine — was combined kitchen, dining room, and place of assembly. About six persons, on either side of a three-plank table covered with oilcloth, looked curiously and courteously at the stranger as he stepped within. The cook poising loaded dishes on either hand, nodded and smiled the inscrutable Japanese smile. The mention of “chow’*- brought a cheerful grin to three or four faces at once, and a welcoming indication of a seat at the end of the table, as the three on that side hunched along to make a place—deftly shifting food with them. In 10 seconds more —with a grave courtesy — was placed before the guest the usual food, each portion in a blue-and-white bowl; to him was apportioned a separate teapot and a handleless cup, both of palegreen seki-ware. Art in a Woodmen’s Camp. The artist ate and conversed. Such of these woodcutters as spoke English (and they nearly all did), spoke in measured carefulness, out of which at Intervals cropped a “Chinook” word or a phrase of this coast as bold amid the careful English as a single dark cedar in a green meadow. Looking about, the guest noted a print on the bunk house wall. He got up and walked across to get a better view.

He knew little and cared less of names and dates familiarly spoken by parlor talkers on Japanese art, but he did feel decorative values, color and drawing, and all the rest of it —whatever it is, in short, that makes the Japanese print so Interesting. This had they all, he said, as he returned to his seat. His auditors were visibly pleased, though with the reserve characteristic of their kind ; the artist’s neighbor pointed at his portfolio, and interrogated: “You make’picture too, maybe?” and evoked admission. “You show us.” Sundry sketches of things and places' near brought ' smiling sidewise comments of recognition, but most of all a single sketch of fir tops, dark above a morning mist, with the misty prow Of a boat and the oncoming ripple of an easy tide, attracted attention. This was appreciatively passed from hand to hand, and one said: “Now we show you, maybe you like?” “Kinship of the Pastel. ~ From one bunk and another came curious wraps of mats and cloths, out of which again came a finely made box or roll, exposing in turn a silken bag, holding carven, founded, or wrought treasures, a kakemono wrapped in a fragment of temple silk, or a couple of shingles keeping flat between them prints of modern photographs of Japan. Presently the table, cleared of dishes and food with approving consideration, was an exhibition field on which one and another, singly, and seriously smiling, displayed his treasure for the guest’s delight. Half a dozen prints of samurai, a famous actor, a geisha, a landscape, and a couple of utter decorative abstractions, each slowly produced and lingered over, were inter* spersed with bits of cast and carved bronze, iron, carved ivory, kakemonos of two or three types, and even a bit or two of pottery and cloisonne. The noon period went swiftly, protracted though it was far beyond its regular length, and ended with slow reluctance and a smiling invitation to the departing guest to “come-see again soon.” Through the length of the afternoon and the years since there has lingered with the artist a satisfying sense of having met in the wilderness the fellowship of the seeing eye.

EACH AGE HAS ADVANTAGE

Hard to Tell Which, From Childhood to the End, May Be Called the “Best” Which is the best age? Are we to believe the professor who tells us that a man’s best work is done before he is forty, or Robert Browning, who exalts old age and cries, “Grown old along with- me*—the best is yet to be I” Childhood, remarks a writer in Lon* don Answers, has a magic and a mystery which can never be regained. Out of its imagination a child shapes its own world and creates its own delights in life. Youth is the time when we find our greatest physical expression. Our Ideals take form and we are neither fettered by failures nor spoilt* by success. Normal youth believes it can conquer all obstacles and achieve all ends. Maturity knows better. The man of forty is balanced by experience, and while his mental faculties should have reached their highest point of development, physically he is not a back number. And what of Browning’s old age? Is the best yet to be ? Perhaps. The man who has been a failure Is near the end “ of his earthly troubles, and the man who has succeeded awaits with a sense of fulfillment, the next great adventure.

Taking It for Granted.

“What are you reading these days?” asked the talkative man. “Gibbon’s ‘Decline and Fall of Roman Empire.’ ” answered the studious person. “Ever dip into that work?” “No. I’m satisfied With just knowing the Roman empire decP' ed and fdll> without going into all the details.’’ —Birmingham Age-Herald.