American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-07-03

were not sufficiently deep the worms
filled them up and passed over the bod
les of their comrades, and when this
was rendered impossible, they worked
around them, and thus gained the other
side, or, i'll some instances, simply
crawled down one side and up the
other. Then solutions of tar and 9th er
sticky substances were spread on the
ground before the worms, and this, for
a short time, caused some delay in the
work of destruction; but the relief was
in the tar, but millions more, marching
behind them, found a comparatively Sc
cure surface on the dead bodies of those
that had gone before. Whole fields of
timothy and other seed grass fell be-
meath their Unsuitable appetite in a
| single night, and many of the smaller
farmers saw ruin staring them in the
face.
The trenches WERE in some instances,
successful when they were dug deep
enough. They were constructed with
a pillow, and to be effective were at
least seven inches deep and five broad.
The side toward the road was simply
rough loose earth, but that next to the
field to be protected had to be careful
ly smoothed with spade. 1t sloped
slightly inward from the base to
| the top, SO that worm trying
to cross the trench would be obliged to
crawl up the smooth surface with his
back leaning toward the ground. This
if the trench was well constructed, was
not often accomplished. 1t was only
when the worms visited farm in enor-
nous numbers, and the trenches were
made only a few inches deep, that the
creatures filed up the holes and passed
| over; but instances were not wanting
| in Monmouth County of such occur
rences.
A journey through large part of
Monmouth County by wagon revealed a
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 lifeless, and it was
evident that the precaution had been
taken too late. Very often a long trench
ran across a field of wheat, showing
where farmer had abandoned one For
ton of his crop and tried to save the
remainder. Occasionally 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 hundred yards or
more, and young farmer was looking
with faint CLEAN of pleasure ut the
dying struggles of his enemies.
at kills some of EN-" he said, as
he kicked the grass and made the flames
leap higher, land then, more of 'em
seem to like it. 1t don't stop many of
'em. They crawl through it, and they
are coming into the field as thick as
ever. Afore night they'll have eat up
every leaf of the young corn. They
can't do me no more harm, drat 'em,
but I'll burn up all l can of EN-
In many places the road was literal
ly covered with the worms, all in mo-
ton, and all moving toward 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
intervals spots were passed. where an
imaginary 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
the roads but the adjoining cauntry
was clear of the pest. Not worm
was to be seen until, the clear space
passed, the wagon in moment was
again rolling over millions of them.
Farmer James jackson, whose prop
erty i 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 ut his
crops. He observed something singu-
lar in the appearance of his wheat, and,
examining it closely, found that
<.f . .. haI
stripped off. He has had experience
with the army worm, aud he knew that
the pest had been at work. 1t 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 following
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 Coun-
ty. he saved at least portion of his
crops.
In Shrewsbury, probably, the great
est damage has been done, for although
nearly every farmer in Monmouth
ity have been almost ruined. One of
the heaviest losers, but also, Fortunate
ly, 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 saws
the army-worm ought to have been IA
miliar to every farmer in the county,
since for years he has descended upon
their crops at intervals. On this occa-
sion the little pest has given them a
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 the ground is moist. When the |
earth is parched it crumbles when the
worm tries to climb up, and, giving
way, rolls with the worm to the bottom
of the hole. But after shower of rain
has fallen all this is altered. Then the |
worm obtains foothold in the soil and
easily crawls out 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
Long Branch. What he can find to eat |
there is a problem that has not yet been
solved, but no sooner does a visitor, |
landed from the steamer, reach the |
shore end of the iron pier than he finds
himself walking on a path that seems to |
be alive. The whole surface of the |
road is covered with worms, and Il for
midable army guards the approach to |
Leland's Hotel. Any attempt to choose
~ ct Ic hn