Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-08-09
HOW TO FIGHT THE
SOUTHERN GRASS WORM
Press Circular From Mississippi Agri.
cultural Experiment Station, E. r.
Lloyd, Director.
By R. w HARMED.
Agricultural College, Mississippi,

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reports of the worms came from
along the Gulf coast. Since then they
have 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.
Moving Crops.-Where the worms APP
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.
MISUNDERSTANDING is rather I'M
satisfactory for these germs unless it Is
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 IL
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 worm;
have reached an inch in length. Arsenatt
of lead and paris green are the poison'
that will give the most satisfactory re
suits. If spray pumps are available
liquid spray is best. This can be mad
of one pound of the paste %arsenate o
lead to twenty-five gallons of water o
one pound of paris green and two pound
of lime to one hundred gallons Of watere
Dissolving a pound Of ordinary laundr.
soap to each twenty-five gallons will
make the poison stick to the leave
much better.
Dry Poisoning.-If spray pumps ar
not available the dry poisons will d.
about as well. These car be applied b!
dust guns or by the pole and sack meth
cd. Powdered arsenate of lead may b.
applied pure. Paris green should b.
mixed with lime or -four so as to get i
more evenely distributed over the plants
II is best to mix one pound OF pari
green with fifteen or twenty pounds o
lime or flour. If the paris green coul'
be distributed evenly over the plants s.
as not to get it too thick it would no
be necessary to mix it with anything
else, but if too thick it is very likely t.
burn the foliage. Some plants ca
stand much more than others. Corn i
damaged more easily than cotton. TIL
powders will stick Deteter if applied i
the morning while the dew is on tn
plants. Applications must be repeate'
frequently during rainy spells.
Rolling.-Many of the worms can b
killed by rolling the fields with a heav.
roller, where the roller can be applied.
Flowing Furrows.-ln cases where tn
worms appear to be confined to certai
fields and it is desirable to keep ther
from spreading into adjoining fields
deep burrows or bitches may be plowe
around the fields with the vertical sid
away from the worms. As they congr'
gate in these bitches they can be kille
by dragging logs through the burrows
If the bitches can be partially filled wit
water or are filled by rains a sma
quantity Of kerosene or other oil shoul
be added to form a thin scum over tn
TOP. This will prove fatal to the worms
Sometimes several burrows can b
plowed around a field SO that the worm
that manage to cross the first may &c
caught in the others.
Hand Pick;ng.-We have scene a nun
Der of small fields of cotton, corn, an
cane that were saved by simply goin
over them every day or two and plckin
off and destroying all the worms. Wher
there are children to do this, it will Ill
doubtedly pay IN a small farm. Tim
may be saved by carrying a large ope
vessel with a small amount OF oil an
water in it. The worms are shake
from the plants into this vessel and tn
oil will kill them.
Live Stock.-Where large numbers {
cattle or other live stock are presen
they may be turned into badly infeste
fields and by eating and tramping wi
kill many of the worms. We know {
instances where this has recently bee
used in this state. Where poultry ca
he turned into gardens or other sma