The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1889-09-10
THE COTTON WORM.
The Best Manures to Prevent It's
Ravages.

taTGt Experiment Stdta0n.
Mr.. EDIToR:-There is now ap-
pearing in some of the cotton fields of
the State a worm which rapidly de-
stroys the leaves of the cotton plant.
The dangers from the ravages of
these worms are very great, and on
account of this fact a special bulletin
of the Experiment Station is herewith
issued, in order to prevent, if possible,
much loss due to these worms Strict
precautionary measures must be taken
at once, and used to destroy the worms
before they can have destroyed many
leaves and thereby endangered the
development of the boil.
The CoTToN WORK {aletia orgillacea)
has been known since 1893, when it
was SO destructive in this county. In
1904, and many successive years,
much damage was done by them.
The cotton worm must not be con-
founded with the boil aoorm or the
army soorna, the former being an insect
especially destructive to the cotton
boil, the latter (army worm) being
generally found in the States north of
US, where it is extremely destructive
to green crops, wheat and the grasses
especially.
The cotton worm such as we will
describe, is also known as the cotton
caterpillar, and this name is distlnc.
tive enough fer ordinary use. It is
found all through the cotton belt,
though in more southerly States its
ravages are much more extensive than
with US. So much so that in some
sections it is always conside~ed one of
the civilizations of the cotton crop.
Implements are made and used in
these States with great benefit for
their prevention. Fortunately, we
have been very free from them owing
to our favorable northern location in
the cotton belt.
A few words as to its growth and
habits4aay not be out of place. The
eggs which develop into the cotton
worm or caterpillar are laid by small
moth L inches from wing tip to wing
tip. 1t has four wings, the two forwarp
ones being Of slight reddish brown
color and tipped with wine color
This moth lays her eggs varying from
400 to 600, which are deposited on
the under surface of the larger leaves
on the upper portion of the cotton
plant. They are deposited singly,
but seldom more than four or five on
a single leaf. They are, when first
laid, of beautiful green color, chang
ing to dirty white before Matching,
and are of diameter of about one
fortieth of an inch. The eggs hatch
according to the seasons, on warm
days two days after being laid, and
later on possibly almost week.
When Matched they are of course
very small, growing quickly to their
full length; at this time they are
about i inches in length and about
lilo inch in diameter. The worm is
green with two stripes of black on
back and black dots on body, its head
being yellow. 1t has sixteen legs,
and by peculiar motion of the body
arches itself similar to the common
measuring worm.
REMEDIES arious remedies for
preventing the ravages of this cater
pillar have been advised. The plan
of encouraging the natural enemies
of the worm-and it has a great
many-is spoken of, but the efficacy
of this is somewhat doubtful. It is
suggested also that the eggs be de-
stroyed, but this. however, may tend
to kill the tender leaf Collecting the
worm by hand is also spoken OF, but
the labor involved. is too great. The
best plan undoubtedly that has yet
been devised is the destruction of the
caterpillar by poison. A variety OF
these poisons have been recommen-
ded, among which are London purple,
gray arsenic, Paris green, ETC., either
applied in the wet or dried way. For
ordinary purposes in this State the
dry method is sufficient. Though
rather slower than the method with
water, the poison can be applied easily
and successfully. of most of the
ordinary poisons, Paris green IS the
best and most easily procured.
The farm of Mr. w. G. Upchurch,
near Raleigh, was visited and the
remedy adopted by him is recon
mended on account of its simplicity
and good effects. Mr.. Upchurch uses
one pound of Paris green with 100
pounds of either land plaster, gypsum
or lime phosphate These are thor
oughly mixed and applied by sprink-
ling on the leaves in the early morn
ing before the dew is off; in this way
man ought to sprinkle 100 pounds
of this mixture on an acre in short
time. At this time of day the powder
adheres closely to the leaves, the cat