The Green Forest tribune., 1911-11-10
By PAUL BATHURST

I | Station.
 In many of the cotton sections of Arkansas q leaf-worm has done great damage during August and September of 1911. This worm has stripped the foliage. leaving the plants bare and naked and unable to mature the small and medium sized bOlls. This pest was not the true army worm, and it was different from the boil weeyil, It is properly called the cotton leaf worm. This worm feeds only on cot ton. The tiny caterpillars of this species hatch from eggs laid scatter ingly on the under side of the leaves by the parent moth. When they are full grown, they turn into brownish pupae tied up in the leaves. In this stage the insect changes into moth, which is the adult insect All in dividuals have to pass through the first three stages in order to become moths. The adults pair, and the fe- males lay an average of 500 eggs, after which they die, and the life cycle from egg to moth is thus end ed. The moths are strong fliers, and are attracted to lights in vast mum bers. The winters of Arkansas kill off all stages Uf this pest The spec ies passes the winter as adult moths in the far South, and the later genera tions of the moths migrate northward as the season advances, becoming numerous enough to be pest in this state early in August. There are seven generations in the extreme South, but probably not over four or five in Arkansas. The eggs. worms and pupae are all subject to parasites which destroy great many. There are many inset tivorous birds and ants that aid in the reduction of this pest Those enemies of the insect will probably destroy so many this year that they will not be such a pest next year. Such has been the usual history of similar outlreakes of insect pests.
 PreYentives and Remedies.
 It is appalling to learn how helpless the cotton farmers have been this year in controlling the pest. In most cases no attempt was made to stop the damage. And yet this pest is controllable by those who know how and are prepared to fight it The only preventive measure that would be of value consist in planting the cotton far enough apart to allow the sun to reach the ground When the worms and pupae fall on the hot soil they become benumbed and easily fall prey to their numerous enemies The best way to destroy them is with powdered ars enate of lead applied a the rate Of three or more pounds to the acre according to the size of the plants. If this insecticide cannot be bought, Paris green can be used by mixing one Taft of the same with two parts of flour. The flour makes a a good sticker for the green, but it is not necessary, if arsenate of lead is used. Paris green is more apt to burn the foliage, and it does not set tie So well into the crevices of the leaves as the arsenate of lead The arsenical poison should be dusted on the plants just as soon as the lit tie worms begin to rag the cotton This injury is first noticed in the tons of the plants, and only in spots in the fields. These places should be thor oughly and forcefully dusted at once At such time it is not necessary to dust the whole field, unless the worms happen to be scattering over it.
 There is some difference of opinion as to the best tools to do the dusting with. The farmers commonly use two sacks hung on the ends of a pole car ried by a man on a mule This dusts two rows at a time, and one man can thus treat about 15 acres a day This method undoubtedly does some good, and is better than no method but modern dusting apparatus are now on the market with which the work can be done more thoroughly and faster. A convenient hand duster is sold, called the Champion dust gun"
 
 There are horse power dusters with as many as six outlets for the dust, which cost s60 to $75. It is stated that one man with good team can dust 50 acres with one of these in a day. The Champion dust gun has given excellent satisfaction in treat ing cotton for the boil weevil in the far South. The horse power outfits could be made very practical for use on large scale. All growers who have had trouble this year should buy a Champion dust gun at least, if they do nothing more extensively, and be ready to dust the tops of the plants when next year the worms begin to rag them. Tke gun would be more useful for this part of the work than the sacks could possibly be. The grower should remember that the arsenical insecticides are poisonous |
 Grinding the grain makes it more