The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1912-08-09
HOW TO FI6HT THE
SOUTHERN GRASS WORM
Press Circular From Mississippi AgrL
cultural Experiment Station, =. r.
Lloyd, Director.
By R. W HARMED.


Agricultural College, Mississippi,
July II 1919.
Since early May, Mississippi farmers
have had to meet an outbreak Of one Of
the most serious pests that has ever
damaged their crops. Dozens Of farm
era have assured the writer that this is
the worst pest they have ever known.
reports Of the worms came from
along the Gulf coast. Since then they
spread over most Of the counties
Of South Mississippi, the Delta, and to
some extent to all sections of the State.
Certain districts have not been damaged
at all while in other places hundreds Of
acres Of corn, grass and other crops
have been totally destroyed. In some
instances fields have been replanted
three times, and the crop entirely de-
stroyed by these pests.
About June 18th We found that the
parasites and other enemies of the
worms were destroying many Of them
in the Southern counties. We are very
glad to be able to report now that in
some sections of South Mississippi the
worms have apparently disappeared. 1t
is to be hoped that their enemies now
have the worms in control so that they
will not appear in injurious numbers
again this year. We are also hopeful
that these enemies Of the worms will
follow them to other sections and soon
have them under control.
Methods of Fighting.
Nro-u- C~our -Uhora <ho vvopvua nm.
pear in fields of johnson grass, alfalfa
or other hay crops, in large numbers.
the moving machines should be used at
once. If the hay is cut it soon becomes
dry and distasteful to the worms. In
this way many farmers saved their hay
crops in the prairie section Of the state
in August 1907.
Poisoning.-Poisoning is rather un-
satisfactory for these germs unless it 10
done while they are very small. Corn,
especially, should be watched carefully,
and If small white spots are seen on the
leaves it is quite likely that the little
worms will be found eating on one side
Of the leaf. The small worms are white
and are only found by careful searching.
Where they can be found in numbers II
will pay to poison them at once. They
can be very readily poisoned while
young, but it seems to take considerable
poison to,kill them after they are nearly
grown. Poisoning is therefore OF some
what doubtful value when the worms
have reached an inch in length. Arsenate
Of lead and paris green are the poisons
that will give the most satisfactory re-
suits. If spray pumps are available .
liquid spray is best. This can be made
Of one pound Of the paste arsenate Of
lead to twenty-five gallons Of water or
one pound of paris green and two pounds
Of lime to one hundred gallons Of watere.
Dissolving a pound of ordinary laundry
soap to each twenty-five gallons will
make the poison stick to the leaves
much better.
Dry Poisoning.-If spray pumps are
not available the dry poisons win do
about as well. These can be applied by
dust guns or by the pole and sack meth
cd. Powdered arsenate of lead may be
applied pure. Paris green should be
mixed with lime or flour 80 as to get it
more evenely distributed over the plants.
II is best to mix one pound Of paris
green with fifteen or twenty pounds Of
lime or -four. If the paris green could
be distributed evenly over the plants 30
rs not to get it too thick it would not
be necessary to mix it with anything
else, but if too thick it is very likely to
burn the foliage. Some plants can
stand much more than others. Corn is
damaged more easily than cotton. The
powders will stick Deteter if applied in
the morning while the dew is on the
plants. Applications must be repeated
frequently during rainy spells.
Rolling.-Many Of the worms can be
killed by rolling the fields with q heavy
roller, where the roller can be applied.
Flowing Furrows.-In cases where the
worms appear to be confined to certain
fields and it is desirable to keep them
from spreading into adjoining fields,
deep burrows or bitches may be plowed
around the fields with the vertical side
away from the worms. As they congre
gate in these bitches they can be killed
by dragging logs through the burrows
If the bitches can be partially filed with
water or are filled by rains q small
quantity of kerosene or other oil should
be added to form a thin scum over the
top. This will prove fatal to the worms
Sometimes several burrows can b.
plowed around q field so that the worms
that manage to cross the first may gel
caught in the others.
Hand Picking.-We have scene a mum
Der of small fields of cotton, corn, and
cane that were saved by simply going
over them every day or two and picking
off and destroying all the worms. Where
there are children to do this, it will un
doubtedly pay on a small farm. Tim
may be saved by carrying . large ,opeI
vessel with a small amount of oil ana
water in it. The worms are shaker
from the plants into this vessel and tn
oil will kill them.
Live Stock.-Where large numbers o