Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1911-11-08

AZ I"ahs ol the cotton sections q.
Arkansas d leat=Morm has done great
damage during August and Septembe.
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 weevil. 1t
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
lngly on the under side of the leaves
by the parent moth. When they are
full grown, they urn into brownish
pupaa tied up in the leaves. In this
stage the insect changes into a moth,
which is the adult insect. All III
dividuais have to pass through the
moths. The adults pair. and the fe
males lay an average OF 500 eggs,
after which they die. and the life
cycle from G to moth is thus end
ed. The moths are strong filters, ana
are attracted to lights in vast num-
bers. The winters of Arkansas kill
off all stages of this pest. The spec
les passes the winter as adult moths
in the far South, and the later enera-
tons of the moths migrate northward
as the season advances, becoming
numerous enough to be a 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 a great many. There
are many insectivorous birds and ants
that aid In the reduction Of this pest.
Those enemies Of the insect will
probably destroy SO many this year
year. Such has been the usual history
OF similar outhreakes of insec, pests.
P%reventives and Remedies.
1t 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
comfortable 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 a prey to their numerous enemies
The best way to destroy them is with
powdered arsenate 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 part of the same with two
parts of flour. The flour makes a
a good sticker for the green, but it is
rot necessary, if arsenate of lead is
used. Paris green is more apt to
sura the foliage, and it does not set
'o 50 we'll into the crevices of the
'"aNcs as the arsenate of lead,
~ PolooH iOulu Db ulStou
~ the plants just as soon as the lit
10 worms begin to rag the cotton.
: his injury is first noticed in the tops
u tie plants, and only in spots in the
'!:lds. These places should be thor
oEghly and %forcefully busted at once.
IT such time it is not necessary to
dist The whole field, unless the worms
hagpen to be scattering over it.
there Is some difference of opinion
rs TO the best tools to do the busting
with. The farmers commonly use two
sachs hung on the ends of a pole car
sied by a man on a mule. This dusts
two rows at a time. and one man
can thrs treat about Is acres a day.
'rh;s method. undoubtedly does some
s'od, and is better than no method,
srt modern busting apparatus are now
en the market with which the work
.an IL done more thoroughly and
fartes. A convenient hand buster is
SD, e:slled the champion dust gun
as many as six outlets for the dust,
which cost $50 to SIS. It is stated
that one man with a good team can
'l.t 30 acres with one of these in a
day. The Champion dust gun has
s.'1oa excellent satisfaction in treat
ing - tton for the boil weevil in the
far South. The horse power outfits
som'd he made very practical for use
"a a large scale. All growers who
have Mad trouble this year should buy
- CHAMPION dust gun at least. If they
~ nothing more extensively. and be
ready 10 dust the tops of the plants
@te next year the worms begin to
rag item. The gun would be more
n~st,, for this part Of the work than
tae sacks could possibly be. The
'gso,yey should remember that the
avaensat insecticides are poisonous
G.indiBg the grain makes 1t more
dtsestik,e. and the more digestible the
tnsh the more milk from a given