Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1900-06-21
The New Kansas Plague.

Farmers In some parts OF the coun-
try are considerably interested In
watching an apparently new pest in
the form OF a dark colored worm
about one to one and q half inches
long. It's advent seems rather sud-
den, though its present distribution
and Numbers would indicate that the
fields were considerably infested last
year. The very fact of its rapid
spread is abundant proof of what the
outcome may be if not taken in hand
and dealt with severely.
This new pest is now doing large
amount of damage to many farm
crops, such as corn, alfalfa, etc., and
also Is fast getting away with certain
weeds, such as lambs quarter, pig
weed, iron weed and many others.
Many alfalfa fields Tn which they
seem to work most) are literally filed
with them. Shake a small bunch of
infested stems and the ground will
be sprinkled with them.
As they may not be common in all
parts Of the country short descrip-
ton of them may be useful in the
future. It is smooth, almost velvety
in appearance, and varies. according
to age, from almost a black to an
ashy gray brown, obscurely striped
and sometimes lightly wsvy barred
across the back. Kellogg's 'Injuri-
Gus Insects of Kansas" does not give
anything which answers to this de-
scrIption. It Is similar IN many ways
to the fall army worm, but is several
months too early in its appearance.
But with or without name, the
treatment should be the same. It is
leaf eating insect and can be pois-
oned by spraying with London pur-
pie or Paris Green. OF course this
would mean great expense to many
farmers, yet it is probably the only
means of saving next years crop.
A large number can be killed by
rolling with heavy weighted roller,
but there would still be enough re-
naming to issue hundreds and thous-
ands for next year. Spraying around
the edges of large patches and in the
worst infested places would stop the
rapid spreading, but thorough spray
ing Is the only thing to do in order
to extermInate them. But few feel
able to buy good pump in addition
to the oost of mixtures and also par
tial loss of crop. AS remedy, sew
ersl neighbors could go into partner
ship and buy good outfit. The
London purple and Paris green are
so cheap that the lost time would be
the greatest expense. Every person
owning crops should lend a hand
that they, too, may escape the NUS
ance. Last year the garden web
worm did much damage in certain
parts of the county. The two pre-
vious years the spring csnker-worm
was the invader. Bearing these facts
in mind. thinking man will soon see
that a spray pump is good addition
to his farm machinery; he may then
attack Immediately all insect enemies
subject to poisoning through spray
ing, or it also may be used in admin
isterIng coal emulsion to sucking
bugs, the squash-bug for instance.
Ali should watch this new enemy
and deal with it as it deserves, re-
membering the larger the fields in |
tested the greater will be the loss,
and the more should be spent In the |
determination of them. Act prompt
IL for your own sake, if not for the |
sake of others. a plan used by some
to prevent the worm going into new
fields is to make deep, sharp furrow
around the field and dig a few shall
low 'post holes" in the bottom. The
worms, or most of them, crawl along
the burrows and fall into the holes,
where they are unable to get out
But this method is only temporary in
its effects. aRd does not prevent their
propsgating and preparing the way
for an army of worms next year
Davis Boyles in Sslina Republican
Journal