The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-20
Falls Church Farmers Club.
WEDNESDAY, March Is

Mr.. Il. T. Fowler in the chair. Subjec
for discussion, " Injurious Insects AM
How to Destroy Them"
Mr.. Bramhall said he considered the cut
worm the most injurious insect of the las
season. 1t cut corn, vegetables, vines, an,
girdled young peach trees. Whether
vas the common cut-worm or more Zero
cious cousin from the West he could no
tell. He knew of no way to successful,
combat it, and we could only protect our
selves by catching them under board IS ant
wrapping paper about the vines or youns
trees.
Mr.. Ives mentioned larger worm
rusty brown, one and half inches long
and half inch in diameter (nearly), thai
infested his grape vines, cutting off the
leaves.
Mr.. Perrigo advocated the use of gas
lime on land to extirpate the cut-worm
and other insects.
Mr.. Fowler thought quick lime was also
good.
Mr.. Ives said that last year it seemed
to make little difference whether ground
had been Fall.plowed or not, but in pre-
vious seasons he had noticed great differ
ence. He had seen field that was one
half plowed in the Fall and the other half
in the Spring, for corn, and the latter was
almost all cut off, and the former unmo.
Tested.
Mr.. Carter noticed similar instance.
Mr.. Perrigo advocated Fall blowing of
sod land or let it stand.
of ashes 10 the hill good where phosphated
corn was cut in the same field.
Mr.. Ellison mentioned the practice of
some when the cut worm was expected, to
leave a strip of grass between the corn
rows for the worm to feed on. He would
only mention it as one of the many de-
vices resorted to arrest the ravages Of this
pest.
The potato bug blister beetle came
next in order as most injurious.
Mr.. Ellison spoke OF their advent two
years ago, when he drove them off with
air-slacked lime.
Mr.. Fowler had used lime in that way
withuot effect.
Mr.. Bramhall whipped them out with
a brush and killed them. .
Mr.. Ives asked how it was that these
insects, which we might expect yearly,
came at irregular and unexpected periods
in overwhelming numbers?
The green cabbage-worm next received
the attention of the suffering agriculture
lists.
Mr.. Fowler used salt for the cabbage.
worm with good effect.
The peach-borer was next discussed.
Mr. Perrigo advocated the use of scald-
ing water for both the borer and the bark.
worm. He had used it with good result.
Mr.. Fowler thought it should be applied
soon after the egg was laid, and would
like to know at what season that takes
place here: The moth. it is known, lays
the egg at the collar of the tree some time
in midsummer. The egg matches in few
days and the worm enters the soft bark.
III year the worm reaches its full size,
and is working its way around the tree.
He thought we should do the scalding at
the time the young worm is entering.
Keep the grass away from the trees, and
use tarred paper about the crown of the
roots in Spring and Summer.
Mr.. Ellison thought that gas lime would
be good spread over the orchard thinly.
Mr.. Bramhall said that in all the
protective measures proposed, the birds
bdu NV oCCh SonoluClCus LhC opoAloWos
wrens, woodpeckers, finches. Hy.catchers,
and many others, were entirely insectiv-
erous, and all small birds are more or less
so, and of great value, and should conse-
quently receive our protection. With our
greatest vigilance we do not kill half
a pound OF insects a year, while many
birds destroy three times their own weight
in insects in day. Idle men and boys
cross our fields and infest the roads shoot
ing at the birds. Shall we allow it? He
read the law as it stands, imposing a fine
of So upon all persons detected in shooting
on forbidden grounds or upon the public
roads, with forfeiture of dog and gun.
The club resolved to enforce the law.
Co-operation-The matter Of getting oil
meal from Baltimore was brought up, and
ton was subscribed for by the membe'
at $53, all expenses paid. Ut costs about
500 per ton in Washington. Shell lime,
gas lime, plaster and mill feed at reduced
rates will come up at next meeting, with
the bird-law question. Adjourned to meet
in one week.
J. T. BRAMHALL, Secretary.