Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-06-20
M.seEAH.As!MlsEeUs q! \:
CutwOrnns.

ance OF cutwOrms, and the destruc
tive character of their work, ther
mas been an earnest appeal to u
from farmers in different sections q
the State within the last few dav
for remedy, and for information
in reference to their habits, wha
they hatch from, and what they tur,
to.
There appears to be general be
lief that the hot sun, during the lat
ter part Of May and the first o
June, causes them to die; Will,
many persons are led, by errOneou.
statements in the newspapers to be
lieve that they turn to grasshoppers
There IL some excuse for the first
belief, but none, whatever, for the
latter. The fact is, the kinds of cut.
worms which are the most destruc.
tive become full grown and cease
feeding between the first and mid
die of June; or if it is an
early, warm spring, possibly during
the last of May, they then change
into harmless stage of their exist
ence, called the chrysalis. Cool, wet
weather will retard this change,
while hot days and warm nights will
hasten it. Hence, the protractcd
cool weather in May has been I'M
favorable for their development, as
we'll as unfavorable for farm and
garden crops. They remain in the
chrysalis stage until July and Au-
gust, when they change to the adult
form, which is a moth, or miller, re-
sembling somewhat the bee moth,
only much larger. These moths fly
at night and each female is capable
of depositing from 100 to 800 eggs.
The eggs are, as rule, deposited in
pasture or meadow sod, the young
cutwOrms Matching from the eggs
thus deposited, feed upon the tender
second growth Of grass and other
vegetation until cold weather. They
then secrete themselves in the sod,
under stones or other similar objects,
and remain there, dormant, until
vegetation starts in the spring. If
the sod is plowed in the spring for a
crop, and the grass thus destroyed.
they will attack the first green or
growing plant they find, and con-
tinue to feed until they have fully
matured. when they go through the
same transformations aS before.
REMEDIES.
The fact that cutWOrms travel dur
ing the night in search of food, and
that they will feed upon almost any
kind of fresh, unwilted vegetation,
has led TO the discovery that they
NAV be easily destroyed by poisoned
bait, which is prepared and applied
sc follows: Glover grass, or other
green and tender vegetation IS cut
and thoroughly sprinkled with strong
Paris Green water, then tled III
e,n,lI bundles or wadS; these pol
soned bats are distributed over the
Garden or field before the cultivated
nlants are up or have been set out
They should be distributed IN the
ovoninq in order that they may be
fresh and attractive, the worms VIII
find them during the night ana DE-
poisoned. This method has neen
Extensively used, and when thor'
oughIy done found very efhclG"!'
Poisoned wheat bran used in a
oimiIar manner, or placed arouhu
the plants, is also an excellent pre-,
voptiye. Kainit and common S"l'
nIoced around the plants is ano'her
! rrac,icaI method of preventing their
attack Late summer or early i"ll
nIowing of sod land will usually ne,
stroy the young worms, ana p.0v'"'
!, tho moths from dcpositing their eggs
in the soil thus treated ~
From the fact that the ihqu''''1
o,ant cutworms and complaints OF
: aoo"' a,,ack. have all been received
d since May 9th, much Of the Ia aO"Se 's,e
snr.pma,jon SI"Sp is unfortunately too late
. 70 be of any use this season, S'0o h"Oo
5 TO St Dt O Of the damage has been done
,rUIt "nd the worms will soon disappear