New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-31
PUZZLED BY THE Worms.
DIFFERENT NAMES FOR THE PEST
WHICH IS DESTROYING CROPS.
WHAT A wALLABOUT PRODUCE DEALER
LEARNED ON TRIP THROUGH DELA-


WHAT wALLABoUT PRODUCE DEALER
LEARNED ON A TRIP THROUGH DELA-
WARE AND oTsEGo COUNTIES.
Waiabout country produce dealer who has
Just returned from trip to Delaware Otsego
counties gives some Interesting Information about
the ravages OF the army in those sections
He says the pest first seen near Deposit, in
the lower part Of Delaware County, and at first no
attention paid it, and farmers in the
neghborhood who had the army worm
were not at all alarmed. Now. however. the worm
Is found by millions in almost all parts O. the
Not only are the crops Of the farmer in
danger. but the gardener and fruit-grower are
equally the mercy OF the worm. Trees and
bushes trimmed OF the fruit and foliage within
few hours after being attacked. and lawns and
gardens are destroyed by these pests. The corn
and GA. fields. however 10 be their particular
dell ght He describes the worms about an .nch
long dark brown In color. with light stripes along
the SIDE. H. 3. Brown Of Memphis, Tenn. who
visited Delaware County last week, said the pes;
was not the army WORN He said 1t was the cot
ton worm the same species which has wrought
tuch havoc in the South. and ne that they are
trread by the use cottonseed meal Deposit
farmer who has made careful investigation OF
the matter says that the worm is what is known as
the Southern grass worm The cotton worm is
what s known Topper. moving by craving
It's hind fee; UP under It's body and making a loop
0. Itself while the Southern grass worm simply
crawls along He also says that the army worm
when abundant is always attacked by parasitic
fy which lays a large number OF eggs on the fore
par, Of the body. AS none OF these nave been seen
the back 0. the caterpilars he regards 1t az an
indication that these pests are not the army worm.
Frank r. Terry Cannonsville farmer, sends an
Interesting story containing extract from an
article entitled Cotton and Its Cultivation writ
ten ny T B. Thorpe Of Louisiana. and published In
"Harper's Magazine in 1885,. In speaking OF the
evils 20 which the plant is heir he says: All
Of them sink into nothngness when compared 70 the
scourge OF the army worm The moth that indicates
the advent OF this worm has Quaker-like simpci-
~ in It's light. chocolate-colored body ana wings
and from It's harmless appearance would never be
taken for the destroyer OF vast fields or iuxuriant
and useful vegetation The little. and at FIRST scarce
ly 10 be perceived caterpllars that follow the ap-
pearance Of these moths can De seen 10 grow and
swell beneath your eyes they crswi from lear 10
leaf Day by day you see the vegetation OF Vast
nelos becoming thinner and thinner. wnie the "or'
constantly increasing in size. assumes al last an
unctous appearance most disgusting TO behold. Ar
1iVeQ at maturity few hours only are necessary
Tor modern locu5ts TO eat UP all living vegeta-
aon that is In their way Leaving the localities OF
aer BIRTH they move from place TO place spreading
assolatlon consuming fire In their path All
enors TO arrest their progress annhiate them
prove unavailing They seem 10 spring out OF the
ground and fall from the clouds, and the more they
ere tormen;ed and destroyed the more perceptioe.
seemingly. is their power. We once witnessed the
INVASION OF the army worm II attempted 10 pass
''om desoiated cotton field to one untouched Be
tween these nelds was a wide ditch which had been
0eepened to make barrier 10 the onward march OF
'"e worm Down the perpendicular sides OF the
ehch Inc caterpiliars rolled in untold millions until
40 lotion Tor nearly mile In extent foot or
~ ~ ueep Win living mass OF animal life To an
.!i'iieHse piece or unhewcd timber was attached
yoAe 81 oxen and this heavy log drawn
.nlousn the oitcn IL seemed float crushed
..ass " 'sSetaD!e corruption. The following day.
sne heat OF tropical the stencil arising
I'm tnis scduiated decay percept!be the coun-
around giving strange and incompr ehensble
~ on OF me power and abundance Of this destroyer
VI ne cotton CROP
henry Brace. a progressive farmer. who lives
Ir.aI f-ast SiNney, has been studying the Cornell
,hnpeIiment station bulletins. and has arrived at
vnrm ecision dnat the pests are the climbing cut
seht some fat specimens to Cornell for Identified
ssi,. Many farmers In that neigAborhood agree
ia ha. the same worm has been often there
'nToush not in destructive numbers
,ba eO,sego County: particularly up the valley OF
,he susenehanna, from Oneonta TO cooperstOwn
sxxe worm has wrought great havoc. The farmers
tat section have harvested their oat crop weeks
aoVance OF its ripening TO prevent its destruc-
an an oy the worm. II In dfhcult to estimate the
SSan -, which has been done to fruit and gardens
10y ~ VIII 20 we'll up into the thousands In
SrouIoh The market man said: Between the army
s T,in. the grasshopper and the silver bug, the
naro time Of It between now and next Novem-