New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-18
ruE ARMY WORM INVASION
.-xrp1Es SUGGESTED BY MIR. LINTNER,
STATE ENTOMOLOGIsT.
r CAUSE OF THE WORMS APPEARANCE AND
snNE Or It's PECrIIARlTIES.

r.rsr OF THE WORMS APPEARANCE AND
SOME OF IT'S IRREGULARITIES.
.. tho Editor Of The Tribune.
e,r. The eastern part OF the State Of New
- from at least Washington County on the
-.,+h and Tioga County on the west, Is at pres
~. ~. entering from "A severe attack of the army
~, an insect pest which has seldom visited
49, state in injurious numbers. although IT is
annual destroyer OF grass and grain crops
:. .sveral Of the Western States.
=. Was first observed in the vicinity OF Albany
.u~,ns the last week Of June feeding on the
49,, grasses in rye fields. as small, hlackish,
.,v.striped caterpillar. The immense number
:, ~. nests was not suspected. for II seems to
:. .bs,r habit to do most of their feeding in the
ton. lying concealed on or in the ground by
..r About July | their ravages become ap-
-.r.,, on timothy, rye and corn fields. Many or
.s.,o had by this time nearly attained their
an growth and their ravenous appetite was
,.orn in the timothy and rye fields stripped OF
.rsrv leaf After the leaves were eaten the
..sas were attacked Many OF the timothy
lads were consumed. but the rye having al
-sady hardened. the caterpillar contented itself
nth cutting off the heads.
=, an. field it was estimated that hundred
,r.bels OF the heads had been scattered over
-. ground Abandoning the rye soon after
.,. Adds had been cut. in their march elsewhere
Utmost every blade OF grass was eaten. leaving
-. stalks as dry as when killed by drouth
vben cornflelds We're adjacent. they were at
.ace invaded. and row after row was doomed
aeld OF ordinary size would he consumed IN
Two DAYS In their marches TO new feedlng
r,ounds roadways particularly toward even
,nr would be black with the rapidly moving
ryr,ad hosts In some localities it is stated
cha. fences we're covered with them, and every
rb.-. their number was reported as millions
REMEDIES AND PREVENTIvEs.
without entering into details Of their appear
ance habits ravages or natural history those
suffering from this serious visitation VIII be
especially Interested in the means by whlch
further ravages may be arrested Great con-
t,ernation prevails among the farmers whose
IRONS are threatened with speedy destruc'loh'
as evidenced by the many letters and kilograms
that ere reaching me daily. The following are
the principal remedies and preventives that
have recommended in my replies;
When timothy oat or rye field is infested, out
r,,Ie can be done toward killing the invaders
Air-slaked lime or land plaster freely dis
'ributed or even road dust broadcast when the
leaves are wet with dew rain. would render
hem unpalatable 20 the caterpillars' ana thus
compel them to seek other food But usually "
IS better 70 cut the crop al once III oruef y
save as much as possible or IL
In their marcher over ground that is coihPd d
.,,.o,,, sr,oo,b vast numbers can be crushed by
The use OF a heavy roller. When the surface -
a,.ah str,n Of a rod or two in width may be
selected and sprayed several Tunes Gay Will
=, s.-ore kerosene emulsion. One Of my CORE
has written that he had FOUND SIX
enravings in one day so successful that he ex-
nscted 10 save his corn crop by IT, GOOD results
have attended the spraying Of strip toward
,x,.n .rs srr,v ,s advancing with strong
p. =. green mixture in water and afterward de-
s,rovinS II 70 prevent the chance Of It's being
,a,en nv stock This might be resorted TO with
,ut danger Of harm 10 young corn when not 10
"a grown 10 the mature ear; or dry mixture or
,aris green and plaster could be USED instead.
orr,HrHc, AN EFFECTIVE BARRIER
But the best of all methods for protecting
a,d OF corn or other valuable crop threatened
With ruination is 10 interpose the barrier of
itch. BY this means Governor Morton will
robablv save the greater part Of his corn fields
: nearly two hundred acres. upon the product
2 which.
NJ The food Of his celebrated herds Of Guernseys
% essential was this preservation regarded that
he work Of protection carried on into
late hour Of the night, as 1t was apparent that
No number OF the worms upon his farm at FL
.rslia was more than sufficient 10 destroy every
N OF corn The ditch may be made by ploueh-
~ q deep furrow with its perpendicular sioe
ex, TO the field to be protected AT intervals
!, The ditch Of hfteen or twenty feet NOES OF
bout fvo feet in depth should be mace 'easiy
one with a post augeD into when ,he Gaeei
liars unable 70 climb the wall VIII IAN anu
le or they may be killed ana TeihoNsu aS VIC"
S the holes become hlled. - 49,
BROAD bands Of gas tar have been USED IN me
vest In lieu Of bitches. but. as they require 10
e removed often as they become nlatSsd
,,Ar with the adhering armies, TINS Heu1Ou
.o1ld douhtjess be more expensive than the
itching. $500 $780,. . horho- |
When rye or oat stubble IS found 10 harpor !
any az the caterprlars. most or them ccu4u pe
~ ~, +rrntne over a broad. deep furrow so /
N hurry them inextrcably beneath, but as
ule The field is abandoned as soon as ,he clUp /
as been cut Thorough ploushlns amu orring
,r IN the soil IN the autumn ana cary sp'.ue
VII he Of service IN crushing the cells IN ths
ground in which the pupae or the secoiiu ''00'
PASS the winter. , . -. ,ba
ossss caused by this pest can be aVerteu' ~ -
low too late 10 use some Of them efecuveiy,
M the agriculturist should be fainiiihr with
hem 10 serve him in time OF need 49,.
a., eIad 70 ne able 10 give assurance that
\. most serious injury that We are 10 suHei
rom the present infestation has ALREADY Deei.
o W., I'VE and that the depredations Will not
o,.,,o -,,,nb longer The more advanced or
he caterpiilars have attained their gro% fd,
eased feeding and have entered the HUM a0i
80 ohaans w the pupa and moth stages.
upae~the third stage of the insect-were seen
y me on the sth inst. and the moths therefro'h
hould make their appearance about lhe IN
the present month. Before inc CIose o -. o
,on,h an 81 the caterpillars should have disap-
sarsr ,rbe second brood Of this insect VII. in
Il probability. not be very destructive for me
-sSS "a t.S ratural enemies will be more
buodant. and other conditions less favorable
,r its multiplication.
In the Western States all large invaslons are
TENDED with a parasite which alone OFTEN de-
rows more han cne-half Of the army. II Is
achina fly. considerably larger than our com
on house Nv which follows the army In such
,mhar "a N nroduce a buZzing noise like