Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-08-20
The Army Worm.
AS HE HAS APPEARED IN WORCESTER COUNTY.

As HE HAS APPEARED IN WORCESTER COUNTY
The potato bug has distributed him sell
sufficiently over our western Massachusetts,
helds to give the farmers deal of bother
next year; and, in the meantime, a new
pest is steadily working up this way-the
army worm. At Uxbridge, over an acre of
Hungarian grass was stripped Of leaves aud
seed in single night, next followed field
Of oats, etc; at Southbridge, too, sad havoc
is being made. The ground, in sections, is
literally covered with armies of these larve
Of the night-aying moth, Leucdnia Unipn,ac-
IA they emit an exceedingly nauseous odor,
which is noticed quite distance from the
fields suffering from their ravages. Oats
that have been harvested aud placed in
stacks are alive with worms, and are to be
burned as soon as the rain will allow. They
march in regular way, myriads of them in
long, deep columns, side by side, steadily,
over every obstacle, wherever their food or
instinct may lead them. They feed in the
forenoon and evening, and may be seen scat
tered over fields Of grain or grass, either de-
vouring the leaves or cutting off the heads
and letting them ial! to the ground. They
will thus eat their way across a field, appar-
emily wantonly moving off the heads of the
grain. During their ravages in- 1861, in
Plymouth county, they destroyed an acre
aud half Of wheat in one night, and then
attacked corn field
In dealing with this plague, the best rem
edy, as with all others, is Of preventative
nature. If the grass lands and wheat fields
are burnt over in autumn, multtudes Of the
moths or chrysalides will be destroyed. The
natural enemies arc birds aud ground bee.
ties, which collect about the rear and van
OF the moving army; several varieties of
fies also prey upon them. The most COM
mon and probably the easiest method to ar.
rest their ravagos Is that Of plowing double
furrow around the field or across any part of
field that they are marching toward. 1t
is necessary to have the steep side of the
furrow next the unharmed crop, so that,
when the worm attempts to climb over, it
may fall back into the furrow. Running
the plow once in the furrow is not sufficient
twice, and even three times is better, and it
requires to be renewed if washed down by
rains. If the soil is stiff or stony, the
worms will climb over the steepest ridge it
is on light, triable soil only that the ridge
will suffice to protect the field. The foot
hold OF the worm mast give way, thus roll
ing it back into the furrow aud even, under
the best conditions of soil, it is best to bave
two burrows, one about the width Of row
of corn from the other. The worms thus
trapped should be destoyed, either by fire or
hogs. Laying dry straw in the burrows,
and then setting fire to it is good way, for
by this means the soil of the furrow is made
more friable, and, of course, efficient. Thou.
sands Of army worms may be crushed in a
meadow by running heavy iron roller over
it. A very small pressure is sufficient to
burst their skins and the slightest injury of
this kind will kill them. If the meadow or
field is level, few worms can escape the roll. |
er and thus stop will be put to them at once |
Or course this cannot succeed as well where
the ground is rough and uneven, for the
worms always take shelter in the hollows
The best time to roll is when the worms are
feeding aud up among the leaves, for then
they are sure to be crushed At other times
they are sheltered, aud Il great number will
escape As soon as the crop is removed |
from an infested field, turn in all the hogs
possible, and also chickens, turkeys and
lucks. Sheep turned into the field will kill
nany ofthe worms by tramplng upon them
md If crows and blackbirds are visiting the
ield they should not be disturbed as they
prefer fat caterpillar to grain of corn,
pats or wheat. Although the appearance of
these pests is not as yet general, the present
s the time when they appear, aud a strict
watch should be kept that their approach
nay be discovered in season, if possible, to
prevent their work of destruction.
Springfield Republican.