The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-08-07
Present Outbreak of the Fall Army
Worm and Recommendations for
Its Control

Its Control
The department of agriculture is US
ing all the means at its disposal TO
meet the emergency caused by the
very great destruction of crops in the
South by the fall army worm. This
insect is present in unprecedented
numbers from Louisiana and Arkansas
eastward to the Atlantic ocean. and is
destroying corn, cotton, sugar cane,
rice and other crops to such an extent
as to cause great anxiety on the part
of planters and others. BY means Of
an emergency appropriation by Con-
gress it is possible for the department
to render quick assistance.
Plans for this work, in cooperation
with the states concerned. are being
apidly perfected. The insect will un-
dOubtedly continue its ravages for
some time unless checked In all prob
ability another brood Will appear after
the present one transforms in the
ground. For these reasons immediate
action toward destroying the worms is
strongly advised.
The department recommends the use
of arsenicals. Among these are arse
nate of lead, Paris green, and London
purple. In most cases it will be best
to apply these pOisOnS in dry forms in
stead of with water. Dry applications
can be made by sitting the poisons
upon the plants through light cloth
sacks or by means of blowers or dust
ing machines Liquid applications
must be made with spraying apparatus
70 bs effective. For this reason the
dry applications meet the present
emergency better than liquid ones.
Arsenate of lead in powdered form
is recommended above all other ar
senicals because it will not injure the
foliage of any of the field crops grown
in the South. 1t may be applied with
out the addition of any carriers. Paris
green is next in effectiveness. but
should be mixed with its weight of
ir-slacked lime or -four to prevent
burning of the foliage. which is likely
to occur if it is applied undiluted. Lon
don purple may be used. but should be
applied with air-Slaked lime or flour.
as recommended n the case of Paris
green. Wherever it is feasible to use
liquid sprays, arsenate of lead in pow
dered form should be used at the rate
of , pounds per barrel of water Paris
green should be used at the rate of
about 0 ounces per barrel It is best
in case Paris green is used in this way
to add pounds of freshly slaked lime
to prevent burning.
Whether dry or liquid preparations
are used it is extremely important
| that the applications be made with
thoroughneSs. In the case of corn.
! some of the poison should he placed
| in the heart of the plant, where the
greatest damage is done. y small
amount is all that is required to kill
insects. In the case of cotton. powder
ed arsenate of lead should be applied
at the rate of about ) pounds per acre.
The usual method of utilizing cloth
sacks carrie dthrough the field on
| horseback is perfectly adapted to this
crop.
on forage crops. and others in the
case of which unfortunate results
might follow the use of arsenicals.
other eXpedinets must be adopted In
| pastures and in some instances on al
falfa many of the worms can be de-
| stroyed by the use of rollers or drags.
| In alfalfa that would be injured by
| rolling or dragging, the plants should
| be cut for hay. When the worms are
| forced from the fields by this means.
many can be killed by means of drags
or by plOwing them under when they
make their way 10 other fields. I'm
medlately after cutting, alfalfa fields
should be thoroughly disked This
will kill many of the worms before
| they can leave and will break up and
destroy the cells of those that have
gone into the ground for pupation.
The method of destroying the insects
when they are in the quiet stage in
the ground, to which reference has
to the use of arsenicals in checking
| the pests. In fact. in many eases it
! is by far the most effective means that
can be followed.
For fields Threatened with invasion
but not actually attacked, deep fur
row should be plowed out around the
entire circumference of the field: into
this the caterpillars will fall. when
! they may be crushed by dragging a
| heavy log through the furrow If the
! soil is such as TO be somewhat imper-
vious to water. this furrow may be
kept partly filled with water. on the
surface of which a small quantity of
| Kerosene may be poured. which will
| kill the worms almost immedia tely
when they come into contact with Il.
| Since the worms seem invariably to
! consume the grass and other vegeta-
| tion growing in fields before attacking
| either corn or cotton. il should prove
| an important method of protection to
spray or dust grass and weeds in corn
fields threatened with attack with arse
nate of lead according to the method
| advised above.
Throughout the greater part Of the
South there is likely TO be another de-
structive brood of the army worm
which will come from the transforma-
tion of the present generation in the
| soil. Therefore every effort should be
| made to break up the pupal cells. -
that the next brood Will not appear
| This can be accomplished by the use
| of plowS, CultivatOrs. and harrowS
| Wherever any crop which can he titled
/ has been injured by the fall army