Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-07-23

Within the past few days there hav'
been received at the Experiment Sta
ton reports of the ravages Of an in
sect which, upon investigation, proves
to be the army worm.
/ G.. H. Perkins, entomologist, has
issued q bulletin on the subject from
which we gather the following:
The army worm is the immature
state of moth often seen flying
about in the evening or night. These
moths lay eggs in both fall and spring
on the inside Of folded leaves Of
grasses, old corn stalks, etc. When
first Matched the worms are light
colored and very small and for some
time are not likely to be noticed.
They usually live on sod or where
they are concealed in grass. Here
they remain year after year, unknown
because unseen. Bnt If season is
favorable to their development they
will increase very rapidly and creep
from the grass to the cultivated fields,
where they are more noticeable. Here
they appear suddenly every few years,
}although living there for long time.
Dry seasons are especially favorable
to the increase Of this insect, and they
are often abundant in wet season
following q dry one.
The full-grown worm is about one
and half inches long. The surface
of the body is smooth, and the upper
pat Of the body is marked by rather
complicated series Of lines and when
seen through a magnifying glass
looks speckled. Along the back is
rather wide band of dull black, shad-
ing on each side to grayish tint.
Then, in succession, there is, on each
side, narrow black line, a very mar
row white line, wider yellowish
stripe, a narrow white line, a dusky
or blacklist stripe, narrow white
line, reddish yellow band, white
line and, finally, the greenish under
surface. When disturbed, the worms
usually coil up on the side and lie
mo ionless for some time, but they
may throw themselves about very
vigorously. In appearance and in
many OF their habits these worms are
much like some OF the cut worms for
which they may be readily mistaken.
Their food usually consists of
grasses and grains Timothy, blue
grass, wheat and oats seem to be pre-
ferred. Corn is well liked, while rye,
barley and millct 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
even each other, but their
ordinary food is that just named.
While it is not necessary to be un-
duly alarmed because Of the appear.
ance Of the army worm in large num-
bers, it is not wise to neglect any
method which may be used for their
destruction. The most efficient rem
edy, when it is possible to use it, is
Paris green mixed with water, one
pound to $50 gallons of water, well
stirred. A strip a few feet wide
around grass or grain field well
,prinkled with it would either pre-
vent worms which were infesting adj
accent fields from getting into the pro-
ected field, or if they were already
n, from getting out and infesting
,ther fields, as the worms in crossing
he poisonous strip would eat and be
killed. To prevent The worms from
passing from one field to another
barriers which have been found very
Useful have been made by setting
inc of fence boards on edge between
he fields, thus catching the worms as
hey crawled or tried to crawl over.
\ deep furrow ploughed about a
ield, especially il the side Of the fur
ow next the field to be protected can
'e sloped inwards and the soil kept
DOSE and crumbling, proves a good
'arrier, and any furrow in any soil 8
you'd be efiectual if coal tar be laid I
long the deepest part. Fields may
lso be protected by surrounding 9
hem with belt few inches wide OF 9
mixture OF thirty or forty parts Of
zeal or bran with one part Of Paris 7
reen. Finally, it is very important s
nat late in the fall all stubble, straw,
alks and rubbish Of whatever kind q
1hich may be in the fields that have I
cen infested be burned, as well as =
'eeds and grass which have grown
nan snoh tnlIa ID