St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-07-31

brown. From the upper edge two
black lines pass downwards diverg
ing to each side OF the mouth. Or
the under side near the mouth ar,
six true legs, while farther back arr
eight, thicker false legs, and at th'
very end OF the body another pair o
the same sort. When disturbed th'
worms usually coil up on the side
and lie motionless for some time, but
they may throw themselves about
very vigorously. In appearance anc
in many of their habits these worm:
are much like some Of the cut worms
for which they may be readily mis-
taken. After reaching their iul
growth the worms go into the
ground and change to pupae.
There is probably but one annual
brood in Vermont, and it is not likely
that this insect will ever make great
ravages during successive years,
that is, a year depreciation is almost
certain to be followed by a greater
or less number of years during which
the worms are scarcely seen. This is
because of their numerous natural
enemies, of unfavorable conditions,
which usually prevent their great in
crease. They prefer the night or
cloudy days for feeding, especially in
the younger stages, though they do
eat to some extent during the day
time, and | have seen them actively
at work in bright sunshine at mid.
day. Their food usually consists OF
grasses and grains. Timothy, blue,
grass, wheat and oats seem to be
preferred; corn is well liked, while
rye, barley and millet are sometimes,
but not commonly, eaten. They do
not like clover and attack it only
when better food is wanting nor do
they eat the head of grain, preferring
the leaves. When very numerous
and hard pressed by hunger they will
eat anything, even each other, but
their ordinary food is that Just
named.
Remedies. While it is not neces-
sary to be unduly alarmed because
of the appearance of the army worm
in large numbers it is not wise to
neglect any method which may be
used for their destruction. The most
efficient remedy, when it is possible
to use it, is Paris green mixed with
water, one pound to $50 gallons of
water, well stirred. Corn and other
such crops can be poisoned with that
mixture, and strip few feet wide
around a grass or grain field we'll
sprinkled with it would either pre-
vent worms which were infesting
adjacent fields from getting into the
protected field, or, if they were
already in, from getting out and
infesting other fields, as the worms
in crossing the poisonous strip
would eat and be killed. Such
poisoning, even if the crop were
thrown away would abundantly
repay the farmer for all loss, by the
destruction of the worm, but, in
most cases certainly, if the crop were
to grow exposed to rains or winds
for a month or more, too little
poison would remain to be danger
Gus to stock. OF course, recently
poisoned fodder should not be used,
and in any case careful examination
before using would be wise. To
prevent the worms from passing
from one field to another, barriers
which have been found very useful
have been made by setting a line OF
fence boards on edge between the
fields thus catching the worms as
they crawled or tried to crawl over.
A deep furrow ploughed about a
field, especially if the side of the fur.
row next the field to be protected,
can be sloped inwards and the soil
kept loose and crumbling, proves a
good barrier, and any iurrow in any
soil would be effectual if coal tar be
laid along the deepest part. Fields
may also be protected by surround
ing them with a belt a few inches
wide of a mixture of 80 or 40 parts
of meal or bran with one part of
Paris green. Finally, it is very i'm
portant that late in the fall all stub
Bile, straw, stocks and rubbish of
whatever kind which may be in the
fields that have been infested, be
burned, as well as weeds and grass
which have grown near such fields.
l do not think that our Vermont
climate is usually favorable to the