The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-05-08


Cur WORMS. - Where cut worm
are troublesome in the field, very
old and at the same time very gooC
remedy Is to entrap them in holes
made near the plants, or hills, If II
the cornfield. An old rake handle
tapered at the end 80 as to make q
smooth hole five or six inches deep
or more, will answer very well for this
purpose. In the morning the worms
that have taken refuge in these holes
may be crushed by thrusting the rake
handle into them again, and the
"trap" is set for the next night 1t
is always well in planting to make
provision for the loss of stalk or two
by cut worms, or other causes, ms it is
easier to thin out than replant.
MAY BEETLEs..-Thesea are the per-
feet insects of the white grub so de-
structive to lawns and sometimes to
meadows. A French plan for destroy
ing, orrather catching, the cockchafer,
II very similar insect, is to place in the
center of the orchard after sunset an
old barrel, the inside of which has
been previously tarred. At the bot
tom of the barrel is placed n lighted
anu llSCCIS
to get at the light strike their wings
and legs against the tarred sides of the
barrel, and either get fast or are rem
dered so helpless that they fall to the
bottom. Ten gallons of beetles have
been captured in this way in single
night.
SLUGs. = English gardeners place
handfuls of bran at intervals of eight
or ten feet along the border of garden
walks. The slugs are attracted to the
bran, and in the morning each little
heap is found covered with them. The
ground is then gone over again, this
time the operator providing himself
with a dustpan and small broom and
an empty bucket, and it is an easy
matter to sweep up the little heaps
and empty them, slugs and all, into
the bucket In this way many hun
dreds have been taken in a single
walk, and if little salt and water be
paced on the bottom of the bucket |
the slugs coming in contact with it
are almost instantly destroyed.
ANTS. - When these insects are
in the garden fill small
bottles two-thirds with water, and then
add sweet oil to within an inch of the
top place these in the ground near
the nest or hills to within half all
inch of the rim, and the insects coming
for sip will get into the oil and per-
sh, as it fills the breathing pores.
The writer once entrapped in a pantry
nyriads of red ants in shallow tin
cover smeared with lard, the vessel
having accidentally been left in their
rack. Another means of entrapping
hem, suggested to me by Professor
Glover many years ago, is to sprinkle
sugar into a dampened sponge near
launts to attract the insects. When
hey have swarmed through the
ponge it is squeezed in hot water,
md the trap is reset until the majority
If the insects are killed.
APHIs.-A remedy for plant lice up
III the terminal shoots of rose bushes
or similar hardy plants), said to work
we'll, is as follows: Take four ounces
If quassia chips and boil for ten
minutes in a gallon of soft water.
Take out the chips and add four ounces
If soft soap, which should be dissOlv-
ID in it as it cools. Stir well before
lsing, and apply with Il moderate sized
,aint brush, brushing upwards. Ten
minutes after syringe the trees with t
lean water to wash off the dead in {
ects and the preparation, which would J
therwise dishgure the rose trees.
SCALE.-A French composition for
destroying scale insects, plant lice, s
to-, on fruit and other trees, is as fol- {
)ws: Boil two gallons of barley in
5ater, then remove the grain (Which |
nay be fed to the chickens) and add !
o the liquid quick'ime until it APP l
reaches the consistency of paint.
When cold add two pounds of lamp
lack, mixing it for long time, then a
id pound and half of flowers a
sulphur and quart of alco- t
oil. The mixture is applied with a I
amt brush, first using stiff bristle |
rush to remove moss, etc. 1t not only ,
estroys the insects, but gives the bark S
reater strength. i