The Red Cloud chief., 1888-07-27
NOTES ON cUT.WORMS.
Busgestioas by Clarence NJ. Weed. Ohio'a
state EntOmOlOgixt.

susgestioas by Clarence VI. Weed. Ohio's
state Archaeological.
There are few insects more trouble
some to the gardner than cut-wOrms,
and few which are more difficult to
fight. Although there are several
species of them. their life histories are
in general similar. They are Matched
from Eggs laid by night-lying moths
and feed upon various plants. especially
attacking the stem just above the
ground. After eating a few weeks
these worms go into the ground. where
they change into the chrysalis state.
and a short time afterwards emerge as
moths. or '.millers" to lay eggs for an
other brood. These pests do most mis-
chief in spring. Us they winter over in
q half grown condition. sheltered under
boards. stones or rubbish. and are very
vOracious after their long fast. These
cut-worms are not allowed to increase
entirely ~unmOlested, but are preyed
upon by numerous enemies. l have
found that they constitute a large per-
centage OF the food of young birds be-
fore leaving the nest, and that they
are eaten by toads and frogs. There
are also numerous spiders and beetles
that devOur them. and other insects
which deposit eggs within their bodies.
the eggs Matching into small parasitic
grubs that destroy the unfortunate
worms.
But the most destructive enemy
which checks the multiplication Of cut
worms is a bacterial disease. a kind of
insect cholera. which sweeps them oil
by thousands. Last year this disease
vas exceedingly destructive in South
ern Illinois. where the cut-wOrms had
become extraordinarily abundant. and
one could hardly walk across many OF
the oat-tields without seeing ut every
step the dead and dying worms lying
upon the ground.
Of the dozens of methods that have
been recommended for destroying these
pests there are three which | believe
are of special merit, and are easily APP
piled to garden practice. They are.
first. the poison method. This consists
in killing off the worms before the
crops are planted. by strewing over
the soil lunches of fresh clover or cab
bage leaves. which have been treated
with London purple or Paris green.
either by dipping them into a solution
of the poison. Or busting it on after
dampening the leaves. The half-grOwn
worms providing about in search of food
eat of the bats thus set, and are de-
stroyed before doing any harm. This
method has proved a practical success
with many gardeners. and is we'll worth
practicing where there is likely to be
trouble from these pests. OF course
children and stock of all kinds must be
kept away from the poisoned bats.
The second remedy is using boards
as traps. Last spring l wished to OBJ
tain a large number of cutwOrms for
experimental purposes. SO l went to q
pasture where many loose fence boards
were lying about. and found the worms
beneath them by scores. The boards
were frequently visited during the
spring and many pints of cut-wOrms
were collected. This experience con-
WINGED me that the method could often
be used to advantage in gardens. The
third plan is digging out the worms
where plants have been cut of. This
is practicable in most gardens and will
pay well. for although the o has
destroyed one plant it will soon 60 to
another. and may keep it up for a week
or more If his career Is not checked
Ohio Farmer.