The herald., 1897-04-30
address all communications OF an agrl-
cnlfural nature to the Agricultural Editor.)

Professor A. ]. Cook of Claremont
writes to The Herald as follows: Some
of the orchardists in this vicinity are not
q little disturbed by the presence or
caterpillar infesting the olive orchards
Tho insect seems to be of the cut-worm
pro~p. They are exceedingly abundant
on T. tree and are feeding almost wholly
upon the forming blossoms; thus they
bid fair to entirely destroy the season Z
crops. Upon the leaves and stems are TO
be seen numerous scattering egg-shells'
where the insects hatched out. Inc
1srva is dark and lighter striped ana
although it has the sixteen legs ike
many of the other of these cut-Worm
moth larvae, ii loops or measures as
II walks 1t is lighter colored on the uh
der side. ] have been asked IL II IS not
the young of the army-worm, whlch Is
now causing 50 much excitement III
various parts of Southern California.
While It is closely related to the army
worm. I think it is without doubt an
other species The Southern Cali
fornia army-worm moth, perldroma
saucia lays its eggs in one compact mass
on the twigs. These, on the other hano,
scatter the eggs all about the leaves
and twigs Again, these are all quite
small at present, while the army-worm
caterpillars are quite well along in theT
development l shall watch these and
will be able to give the species before
long.
REMEDIES.
There is but very little question but
what London purple or Paris green
thoroughly applied, Will destroy these
caterpinars and thus save the fruit and
foliage. say foliage. because when they
have eaten the flowers they will then
undoubtedly feed on the leaves. though
ii is possible that they would leave the
trees and feed on other foliage. London
purple or Paris green should be used
mixed in water. one pound to two hun
dred gallons. 1t is best to first mix the
poison with a little water seeing that
it is all thoroughly mixed, then placing
it in the larger amount. This insures
a thorAf;h mixture, and no Jumps OF
the pHon unmixed. 1t is we'll always in
using either London purple or Paris
green especially London purple. to add
two or three pounds of freshly slaked
lime to one hundred gallons. 1t is best
to put the lime in a sack so that the par
ticles may not get into the nozzle and
clog it. This vii tend to make the water
milky. 1t is very important that the
application be thorough. We must wait
a little. too. before we expect that all
the cate1pllars will be killed. II may
take two or three days to poison them
all. 20 - ~
The army worm is not abundant yet
in this region. Two years ago it did
very great damage. 1t is to be hoped
this year it will be less destructive. A
good way to destroy the army worm is
to put punches of grass or weeds or
alfalfa in various places about the or
chard or garden. The caterpillars will
gather under these and can easily be
killed BY sprinkling the grass
thoroughly with L ondon purple the in
sscts will be killed, as they will usually
eat from the bunch. This not only tends
to keep them from trees and vegetables,
but also destroys them.
Or NJ r. Campbell of the asylum at
Highlands sends us several beetles.
which he says are destroying the grape
vines and apricot foliage. These prove
to be cotalpa ursina. This beetle is
found here every year, but has never
yet been common enough to do serious
damage. 1t is closely allied to the May
beetle and even belongs TO the same
genus of the goldsmith beetle, so COM
mon in the east. II is to be hoped that
this insect will not become pestiferous,
as. like the June beetle, it will be hard
to destroy it, in case it should become
q serious enemy"