Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-08-13
OUTBREAK OF ARMY WORM;
PLANS FOR ITS CONTROL

rel of water. Paris green should be
used at the rate of about 10 ounces per
barrel IT Is best in case Paris green
is used in This waya'to add two pounds
of freshly slaked lime to prevent burn
ing.
Whether dry or li1uid preparations are
used it is extremely important that
the applications be made with thorough
ness, In case eof scorn, some of the
poison should be placed in the heart
of the plant, where the greatest dam
age is done. A.. small amount is all
that is required to kill insects. In
the case OF cotton, powdered arsenate
of lead should be applied at the rate
of about ) pounds per. acre. The usual
method of utilizing cloth sacks carried
through the iieid on horseback is per-
fectly adapted to this crop.
On forage crops and others in the
case of which unfortunate results might
follow, the use of arsenicals. other ex-
pedients must be adopted. In pastures
and in some instances on alfalfa many
of the worms can be destroyed by the
use of rollers or drags. In alfalfa that
would be injured by rolling or dragging,
the plants should he cut for hay. When
the. worms are forced from the fields
by this means, many can be killed by
means of dra gs or by blowing them
under when they make their way to
others fields Immediately 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 pu-
patton.
The method of destroying the insects
when they are in the quiet stage in
the ground, to which reference has Just
been made, is of importance next to
the use of arsenicals in checking the
pests. In fact, in many cases it is by
Tar the most effective, means that can
be followed.
For fields threatehed with invasion but
not actually attacked. a deep furrow
should be plowed out around the entire
circumference of the field; into this the
caterpilars> will fan when they may
be crushed by dragging a heavy log
through the furrow. If the soil is such
as to be somewhat in1pervious to water,
this furroW may be kept partly filed
with water, on the surface of which a
small quantity of kerosene may be
poured, which will. XIII the worms almost
Immediately when they come into con-
tact with it.
Since the worms seem invariably
to consume the grass and othe vege-
tation growing in fields before attack
ing either corn or cotton. il should
prove an important method of protec-
ton ito spray. or dust grass and weeds
in cornfelds threatened with. attack
with arsenate of lead according to the
methods advised above,
Throughout. the greater part of the
south there is likely to be another de-
stfuetive brood of the army worm
which will come from the TRANSFORMED
ton Of the present, generation in the
soil. Therefore every effort should be
made to break up the pupal cells, so
that the next, brood will not appear.
This can be accomplished by the use of
plows, cultivators, and har-
rows. Wherever any crop
which can be titled has been
injured by the fall army worm it is
advised that further injury be prevent
ell by the use OF cultiyators and har-
rows. Much good can also be accom-
plished by blowing fields or portions
of fields where all of5the crop has been
destroyed. The treatment of bare
places about cultivated fields in this
way will be of assistance.
To summarize the. situation the de-
partment recommends. the speedy appli-
cation of arsenical 4poisons and the
working of the ground wherever prac-
ticable, in order to prevent further
damage.
Warning-Great care should be
taken that cattle and, other stock are
kept from pasturing in the fields where
the grass or other crops have been
poisoned with arsenicals; also, that
poisoned plants are not fed to stock.
JAMES WILSON,
Secretary of Agriculture.
Washington. d. G., July 90, 1912.