The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-07-26

loss. burrowing into or Just under the sur
face of the soil at the approach of day,
and remaining there until the following
evening, when they again crawl out and
attack the nearest plant. The usual way
Of protecting cabbage, tomato and SIM
liar plants, which are set out sim
ely, is to wrap the stem for about an
inch below the surface and the same dis
lance above, or perhaps q little more,
with any strong Kind Of paper, as the or
binary cut-wOrms will not 90 over, or
under these protectors. OF course, the
paper wrapper may be placed loosely
around the stem, and it is usual to cut
the strips so that when applied they form
funnel, opening upward. which will
catch the water falling in rains and carry
It direct to- the roots. With very little
practice these funnel shaped protectors
can be applied very rapidly, especially if
put on when the plants are set out.
But when it comes to protecting mel
ons, corn, beans and other plants which
come up from seed, the case is quite diff
ferent, and some other method of protec-
ton must be devised. A hoop of con-
venient size, say foot in diameter, and
three or four inches wide, the lower edge
pressed into the soil, is an excellent pro-
tect0r; and we think some of our cheese.
box manufacturers might find good sale
for such an article and at the same time
use up a large amount OF waste material
In making them. Square boxes made of
thin stuff will answer the same purpose,
or even If cut out of tino sheet iron. We
have tried busting the soil about the hills
with lime, ashes and plaster, without any
apparent benefit, the worms passing over
these substances without the least incon-
venience; but they do not appear to care
about meddling with sulphur, and light
ring of this material around hill is q
good and cheap protector until hoeings or
rains distribute it through the soil.
1t is always we'll, however, to kill all
the worms that one can find, for by this
means their numbers may be decreased.
For this purpose traps Of various kinds
have been employed. Handouts of fresh.
cut grass laid about on the surface of the
ground infested by cut worms are attract
i've hiding places, and dozens will often
crawl under heap instead of burrowing
in the soil as usual where no more con-
venient protection is afforded. These
traps should be visited every morning,
and al the worms found under them
killed. In rather stiff, firm soils a mar
row, smooth, circular channel, two or
three inches deep, and one inch wide at
the top, made entirely around the hill,
will form an excellent trap for the
worms; for, in trying TO reach the plant
they fall into the ditch, and if the sides
are smooth they cannot get out, and the
next morning the same implement used in
making the channel should be thrust into
it again, thereby crushing the worms. A
circular instrument made of iron with
handle would be very convenient for
making those ditch or channel traps; but
we do not know whether any such has
been manufactured.
From the above brief sketch of the his
tory of the cut-wOrm we hope our readers
will gather sufficient information to en-
able them TO proceed understandingly in
the pursuit of this great and apparently
constantly.increasing pest.-N. y. Sun.