Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1914-09-09
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!. THE COTTON CATERPILLAR. !.
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lions and answers designed to be or
practical benefit to farmers in their
fight against the cotton caterpillar
(army worm), which has made its
appearance in various parts Of South
Carolina, and from which some very
discouraging reports are beginning to
come in with reference to Oconee
county. James II. Brown, of the
South Union section, reports almost
complete devastation of several fields
in his section of the county, and SINH
lar conditions are said to prevail in
other parts Of Oconee.
1t will be well for all to watch
carefully their fields in order that
the first appearance Of the pest may
be noted and the remedy applied.
Questions and Answers.
l. What is the cotton caterpillar?
An insect having four life history
stages-(a) eggs laid on the food
plants; CD caterpillars resembling
corn ear worms, which hatch from
these eggs; (c) pupa; (when the
caterpillar becomes full grown it Ell
ther folds a leaf over itself or sus-
pends iself by silken thread from
branch and changes to the resting or
pupa; td) moth, which comes from
the pupa.
2. Why called cotton army worms?
Because when the caterpillars are
abundant they travel in droves, and
this suggests the name.
3. What are its food plants? Cot
ton is the normal food plant, and
nothing else will be molested if an
abundant supply Of tender cotton can
be obtained.
4. Is serious damage over large
areas expected this season? No. In
many fields the parasites Of this in
sect are very abundant, having been
bred by the common grass army
worm. In sections where parasites
are very abundant they should con-
troll any outbreak OF the cotton army
worm
). When first seen what should be
done? Kill the worms as far as prac-
ticable by one or more of the meth
DDS suggested below, or others that
the situation may suggest.
6. When confined to a field Of cot
ton, can they be prevented from
spreading? Yes, you can plow a deep
furrow around the field and when the
worms pile up in the furrow drag a
log through it. Poison the adjoir.
ing margins Of cotton fields. If a road
or driveway separates the infested
from the threatened crop, use drag In
killing caterpillars when crossing.
7. When crop is generally in
tested, what can be done? Dust poi
SON.
s. What are the poisons? Arse
nate OF lead, Paris green and London
purple are best in order named.
8. How much poison is used per
acre? About two pounds-less for
very young cotton, and two and q
half to three pounds for cotton more
than three feet high.
10. How is powdered arsenate of
lead prepared for use? 1t is ready
for use when purchased.
II. How is Paris green prepared?
BY mixing it, equal parts, with air.
slaked lime.
~. How is London purple pre-
pared? Same as Paris green. 1t is
not recommended except in extreme
emergencies.
13. Is there danger of burning TO-
liage and injuring plants? Arsenatc
Of lead does not burn. Paris green
and London purple may burn more
or less severely; therefore powdered
arsenate OF lead is emphatica,'v rec
ommended.
IA. what is a practical way Of up-
plying the poison? On small a.4as
dust 1t through a cheese cloth bag
attached to the end of a stick
10. How is this made? strip Of
wood three inches wide, one inch
thick and one foot longer than width
OF rows. Six inches from each end
bore hole one inch or more in di-
ameter. Make two sacks of eight
ounce duck six inches deep and twen-
ty inches long and about the width of
the strip of wood. The open edges
are tackled to the ends of the strip
(called pole )and these can be filled
with poison through the augur hole
in the ends of the pole. A funnel can
be used to advantage
10. How large an cara can man
poison in day? With the apparatus
for poisoning two rows at time,
- carried on horseback (as explained
in question No. l5) one man can poi
son 20 acres per day.
IT. Is there danger of poisoning
STOCK? Yes; after one or two heavy
rains there is practically no danger,
nor after an interval Of about three
weeks. The only case Of stock pois-
oning known are those where poison
was wasted when filling sacks and
stock broke into the field.
is. DO these poisons aggravate
wounds or sores on man or animals?
Sometimes they do. Before using the
poison it is well to cover open sores
or wash them after the work is done.
10. How cGn 7 prevent the mule
from eating poisoned cotton? Muz-
Zle the mule.
20. VIII poison blown on the mule
be Injurious to the animal? Wash
the mule after the worl 10 dana