The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-06-14

From the Indiana Farmer.
RaVaees Of the CatwOTm.

From the Indiana Farmer
Ravases Of the Cutworm.
II was said By one of our learned and know
ing contemporaries. in enumerating the good
effects that would be likely to result from last
summers drought. that the long continued
heat, together with so great lack of moisture
in the ground, would destroy the Larvae of
many hurtful insects. so that, for at least one
or two seasons we might expect them to be
comparatively harmless. But if we to
Judge from accounts which have reached US
from all quarters. of the ravages of that pest
of the cornfeld, the cutworm, we might con
clude that the effect of the drought on the in
sect race has been to greatly increase them
Never within our recollection. has the cut
worm been so destructive. Hundreds Of acres,
within few miles of this place, have been so
completely destroyed by them. As render it
needful to harrow, mark out, and replant.-
Some have broken up their ground afresh, be-
fore replanting. In fact. few the fields of
cid pasture or sod ground. that have escaped
them. and stalk and stubble land have by no
means made clean escape OF course all
the heard Of experiments have been tried, 10
get rid of the evil, but far we know,
with no great success. Lime, ashes, SALT and
such remedies. prove in practice, no remedies
at all. Some have undertaken the tedious
operation of hunting out the little "varments"
and killing them. but whether they succeed
in raising their corn by SO doing cannot
say. We do not know whether the plan of
making holes in the corn-hills, with sharp
pointed wooden or iron instrument. for the
worms to fall into, has ever been recommend
ed in the Farmer. We have often heard of
this way of trapping them, and for the larger
kind think it might be of some benefit. The
cutworm is clumsy fellow. and in crawling
from one stalk TO another would often pass
close on the edge of the holes, and having no
thing to cling to but the loose dirt, would tum
BILE in and when once there would find it no
easy task to climb perpendicular dirt wall,
in order to make his escape. But with the
little "web-worm" (Which we regard dis
tinct species) the case is different. Let him
lose his hold as often as he may. he always
clings to his web like spider and by means
Of it. would always be able to climb from any
hole or pit which his enemies might dig for
him.
If there is any way, which has yet come
to our knowledge, to make the young corn
crop secure from the teeth Of this little des
troyer. it is late blowing. At least, SO we
think. We expressed this opinion in the last
volume of the Farmer. and our observations
have since rather confirmed US. We would
reason thus By the frs, or second week in
9th mo. May) the worms will have attained
considerable size. Now start the pillow, turn
ing the sod completely up side down. and har-.
row WELL and before the little rascals can dig
their way to the surface, most of them will
perish and those that do not will be ready
for their last meal, and consequently do but
little injury So far as we know the facts
tain us in these conclusions If any one who
reads this, has knowledge of any thing to the
contrary, we should be obliged if they would
report the case cases for the Farmer