Connecticut western news., 1880-06-16
FIFE ARMY WORM.
Its Ravages in New Jersey-What Farmers Who Have Suffered
 Have to Say.

Its Ravages in New Jersey-What
 Farmers Who Have Suffered
 Have to Say.
 A journey through large part of Monmouth county, N. J., says letter from that section, by wagon revealed @ singular state of affairs. Trenches were seen extending for miles along the roads close to the edges of the fields but the crops, for the most part, were withered and ifeless, and it was evident that the precaution had been taken too late. Very often long trench ran across a field of wheat, showing where farmer had abandoned one portion of his crop and tried to save the remainder. Occa- sionally field was seen intersected by numerous trenches, indicating that the proprietor had fought manfully against his prosecutors and disputed the ground with them foot by foot. In one place the grass on the road in front of field of half-destroyed corn was blazing for a hundred yards or more, and a young farmer was looking with faint gleam of pleasure at the dying struggles of his enemies.
 "It kills some of 'em," he said, as he kicked the grass and made the flames leap higher, "and then, agin, more of 'em seems to like it. It don't stop many of 'em. They crawl through it, and they're coming into the field as thick as ever. Afore night they'll have to eat up every leaf of the young corn. They can't do me no more harm, drat 'em, but I'll burn up all I can of 'em."
 In many places the road was literally covered with the worms, all in motion, and all moving towards the fields on either side. Thousands and tens of thousands were crushed beneath the wagon wheels and under the horses feet, but the rest pressed on. And at inter vals spots were passed where an imagi- nary. line seemed to be drawn across the road beyond which the army worm could not pass. For a certain space beyond, sometimes for as long distance as two or three miles, not only on the roads but the adjoining country was clear of the pest. Not 8 worm was to be seen until, the clear space passed, the wagon in a moment was again rolling over millions of them.
 Farmer James Jackson, whose prop erty is at Long Branch, was among the first to be visited by the army worm. One evening, about two weeks ago, he walked over his farm to look at his crops. He observed something singular in the appearance of his wheat, and, examin- ing it closely, found that large portion of the leaves had been stripped off. He has had experience with the army worm, and he knew that the pest had been at work It required no very extended search to discover the grub, not in very large numbers, indeed, at that time, but sufficiently so to alarm the farmer. Nothing could be done to check their march that night, however, and the fol lowing morning they had increased so largely as to make it almost impossible to stamp them out. Farmer Jackson went at once to work with trenches and fire, and, more fortunate than many of the farmers in Monmouth county, he saved at least portion of his crop.
 In Shrewsbury, probably, the greatest damage has been done, for although nearly every farmer in Monmouth county has suffered, many in this locality have been almost ruined. One of the heaviest losers, but also, fortunately, one of the richest agriculturists in the county, is Farmer George Hance of Shrewsbury. He owns three farms, all of which have been visited. He says the army worm ought to have been familiar to every farmer in the county, since for years he has descended upon their crops at inter vals. On this occasion the little pest has given them shorter rest than ever before, not more than five years having elapsed since his last visit Usually about twelve years go by between the worms visits. In dry weather, he says the trenches stop the worm far more effectually than when thesground ii moist. When the earth is parched i crumbles when the worm tries to climl up, and, giving way, rolls with the worn l to the bottom of the hole. But after shower of rain has fallen all this i altered. Then the worm obtains foot hold in the soft soil and easily crawls ou of the trench. The fruit trees, he says have not suffered at all from the pest.
 Among the places where, just now the army worm is most plentiful is LonI Branch. What he can find to eat ther is problem that has yet been solved but no sooner does visitor, landed fror the steamer, reach the shore end of tn iron pier than he finds himself walkin on path that seems to be alive. Tn whole surface of the road is covered wit worms, and formidable army guard the approach to Leland's hotel. Any al tempt to choose one's footsteps is use less, and the only thing to be done either to abandon all hope of getting
 the hotel, and return to the steamer, (
 go ruthlessly on, crushing hundreds (
 worms at every step. The hotel pro prietors have tried to rid themselves ( the nuisance, but their efforts have bee } attended with no greater success tha
 fell to the lot of the farmers.
 l His Earnest Headings.