Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1896-07-15
The Army Worm at Westminster.

The army worm continues to be the
principal topic of discussion. The pest
seems to be on the increase and already a
number of fields have been nearly ruined
by their ravages. The Boston Globe of
Monday published bulletin from the state
board of agriculture of Massachusetts, a
copy of which is annexed, and we think
will be read by the readers of the TINES
in this vicinity with much interest.
1t would seem that the depredations of the
gypsy moth were calamity enough to be in
| fiicted upon the farmers of Massachusetts, at
one time, but from the complaints which
have been coming thick and fast during the
past week to the board of agriculture it seems
that they are threatened with another pest
which for the time being puts the moth quite
| in the shade.
This new pest is the army worm, which
was first heard of when it disputed with the
cadets for the possession of the campground
at bingham few days ago, but since then,
| as if by pre-concerted action, they have sud-
denly put in their appearance in various parts
| of the state in overwhelming, devouring
hordes which threaten the farmers with a
veritable Egyptian plague.
All over the state the farmers are being
thrown lIllO Il pdulC ny luc IdNdStS Oh tnlS
| irresistible enemy. Gen. Blackmar says that
there are three worms to every blade of grass
| in his fields at bingham.
Similar reports come from the farms of
John X. Brewer of bingham and II. p. Jor-
dan. The 700-acre farm of John p. S. Squire
at Revere, which is nearly all in grass, is
overrun with the worms. as is that of Charles
X. Morton of Hatfield. 1t is believed that
| the sudden appearance of the pest in local
tiles is due to the fact that it thriyes in
marshy and wet places from which it has
been driven by the drying up of its haunts,
and it is forced to seek its food in the fields
| of grass, rye, oats and wheat.
Reading, Canton, Amherst and number
| of places about Springfield, too, are suffering
| from similar visitations.
Massachusetts, is not alone in this afiliction,
| however. Dispatches from New York state
that the army worm has begun to invade
sections of that state.
They have been discovered in the beautiful
thousand-acre farm of Gov. Morton, near
Rhinebeck. One hundred and seventy-five
acres of the Ellerslie farm are devoted to
corn and 40 acres to oats, and if the onward
march of the voracious pests is not stopped at
once they will destroy both crops. The dam
age sustained by Gov. Morton alone will
reach $1,000.
New York city itself is threatened, and
grave apprehensions for Central park are en-
tertained.
The experts at the agricultural department
say that the normal feeding grounds of the
army worm are in swamps or low meadows,
where it subsists upon the various kinds of
grasses and sedges. Here, with habits very
similar to those of the common cut worms,
to which it is allied, it escapes the common
notice.
But when the caterpillars become exceed
ingly numerous, and their food supply is in
sufficient for their needs, they develop the
trait which has suggested their common
name, that of marching in armies. Then
they appear as if by magic, marching in
straight lines across the neighboring lands,