Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-05-15
THE ARMY WORM.
~ Rex T.. Willard. L. :. u. A

By Rex T.. willard. L. :. ID. A.
The Southern states have been visit
ed by the army worm in great numbers
from time to time. The devastation las
been exceedingly great and a recent pub.
liraiion from the office of the Secretary
~ Agriculture. gives certain methods W
fighting the army worm which are rec
ommcn,led 10 the consideration of farm.
crs who are troubled by this pest
First in the way Of prevention; ii there
are fields that have not been attacked
by the army worm. and u can convent.
emily be done. deep furrow may b.
plowed about the field ~ such way
that the walls ~ The furrow are 100
steep and n the caterpillars crawl from
the ad oning fields and fall into 'hc
furrow. log NAV be- dragged along he
furrow to crush the worms. III the fieId
" level and ID H. possible 10 turn water
into the fnrrow this may be done aud
small amount ~ Kerosene placed on
the surface of the water will kill the
worms
Certain methods of cultivation ale ad.
vocatcd where the fields are already i'm.
fccted. Ii has been demonstrated that
from fifty 10 ninety five per cent Of The
pupac can be DESTROYED by shallow cui.
tivation. When the worms are full
grown they burrow into the ground for
IN inch or two and there 90 into the
papal state But shallow cultivation with
either disc or sPringtooih harrow
large number Of these pupac may be des-
troycd.
Various polsons are recommended To
bc used unds~ different conditions.
Among these are arsenatc ~ lead, Paris
green and London purple. None Of these
poiSons. however. should H. used nn
crops that are later 10 be- used a. for
age.
Also IL H. recommended that these poi
sons be- applied in dry forms which can
bc accomplished by sitting the poi,ons
through cloth sacks or dusting machines.
II liquid applications are made they
should h. made with u spray. OF these
poiSons. arSenate Of lead. IL the best.
To reduce cost. flour may BE- added Ia the
amount of about two or three times the
weight Of the arsenatc of lead. This
should not be- used with either Of the
other poisons. If Paris Green N used In
the liquid state about ten ounces should
bc used In fifty gallons ~ water with
two pounds of freshly sla~ked lime addi
ed.
In the case ~ cotton; powdered nrsen-
ate of lead should be applied nj the rate
IL about five pounds per acre. Clolh
sacks carried through the field On horse
hack through which the powder may be-
sifted II adapted a. spreading the poi.
son on this crop.
In the ease of forage crops. the most
effective measure for destroying the
worms when treating the crop itself 10
70 mix one hundred pounds ~ wheat bran
with couple ~ pounds ~ Paris green
or arsenate Of lead. The mass will hn
brought "a stiff dough Nv usc ~ ore
ind one half ~ two gallons of molas-c-
This doughy mass spread about the field
" forage crops will attract the worm.
md they will feed upon Ia before thpv
will upon the plants. This material ",
said 10 attract the worms for nearly n
foot from the dough itself
Whatever poisons are used 10 fiEht
the army worm. of course. great car
must be taken 10 prevent the stock from
getting into the field. The various ~cr-
pounds are deadly poison and sinRil
amounts may prove fatal 10 stock.