The Republican journal., 1907-08-01
TO KILL the ARMY WORM.
Mixture of Bran, Sweetened Water an
Arsenic or Paris Green Recommended.

Arsenic or Paris Green Recommended.
WASHINGTON, July 27. Complaints
about the destructive activity of the
army worm, the variegated worm, the
tussock moth and other insect pests
are pouring thick and fast into the De-
partment of Agriculture. The govern
ment scientists are busy classifying
various species sent in for identification
and prescribing remedies that will kill
OIL the unpopular visitors and save the
fields of the farmers and the village
residents.
This is going to be notable year
for the army worm,' said Frank H.
Chittenden, assistant chief of the Bu-
reau OF Entomology of the Depart
ment of Agriculture. "The long period
of rainy weather in the early spring is
largely responsible for the abundance
OF the worm, as it thrives under such
peared pretty generally all over the
in the North Atlantic coast states. We
have heard good deal about it from
New York State, particularly on Long
Island.
'There are number of remedies
for this pest. The one most practical
for persons living in villages and desir-
ing to protect their lawns and shrub
berry, consists of a mixture of bran,
sweetened water and arsenic or Paris
green. Mix with fifty pounds of wheat
bran one pound of white arsenic or
Paris green. Put in enough sweetened
! water to form mash that can be run
/ through the fingers easily. Scatter this
| around the lawn where the worms are
found. 1t will probably kill the in
sects. Care should lie taken to keep
chickens off of lawns where this prep
aration is Paced
| "1n fields where the army worm has
appeared it is more difficult to combat
it. A favorite way is to dig long
trenches, and as the worms fall into
the bitches kill them with kerosene.
The fields may be sprinkled by means
| of broadcast sprayer with an arsenical
solution. Usually this office is not ap-
pealed to for aid until too late to do
any immediate good.
'The army worm has appeared SO
frequently in the East in recent years
that it is becoming a familiar object.
1t is naked, striped caterpillar about
an inch and a quarter long and quar-
ter of an inch in diameter when full
grown, and rather dark in appearance.
These worms usually travel in one di-
rection from one field to another, des-
troying the crop as they go. They are
I voracious eaters, and will strip coun-
try of all grasses and grains within
reach. The worm eats ordinarily by
night only When it's numbers are so
great that sufficient food cannot be Sc
cured at night they operate in the day
time, also. The true army worm will
not attack trees, but will sweep field
of wheat, rye or oats or other cereal,
and clean lawn down to the last blade
of grass.
''The adult insect is moth with a
white spot in the center of each fore
wing. The first crop is the result of
the Matching of over-winter eggs.
/ There are three or four generations
each year, depending on the climatic
conditions. BY burning over waste
grasses late in the fall and killing the
eggs, the worms may be prevented
from getting start in the spring. Ma
ture has provided parasite in the
shape of the tachina fly, which keeps
the pest in check and eventually will
kill it,