Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1915-06-28
FEAR OUTBREAK
Of ARMY WORM
state EntsmsIoslst seands Warning
end Makes sueesstiona


AOiitkt Sa1oHs At&acs
June rs. 1915.
That there IL danger OF q severe
outbreak Of the fall army worm In
central Texas the next few days and
weeks. Is the opinion Of Mr.. wilmon
Newell. State Entomologist. and Mr..
| c. l.. Scott OF the U. s. chronological
Laboratory at Brownsville. Messrs.
Newell and Scott have been invcsti-
eating cases Of severe damage to
corn. alfalfa and sorghum crops In
this and adjoining counties during
the past two days and nnd damage by
this insect very severe. amounting In
some cases to total destruction OF
some fields Of corn which were late
planted.
J The fall army worm. OF all the army
| worms. Is the most to be dreaded, as
unlike the cotton army worm" II
does not conhne itself to one crop.
but feeds Unfortunately on corn.
sorghums. Sudan grass. alfalfa and
grasses and weeds Of various kinds.
According to recent investigations
by Mr.. Scott IN various parts Of the
State, moths developed in the south
ern portion have apparently been MI
1 grating northward during the past
week or ten days and these moths
have deposited eggs which are now
Matching into thousands Of tiny green
worms" on corn. alfalfa and other
crops. The appearance Of the worms
in Central Texas In numbers this ear.
~ In the season IL unusual and. unless
parasitic enemies Of the army worm
become abundant. severe damage Is TO
be anticipated,
In speaking OF the measures 10 be
taken by farmers In combating this
pest. State Entomologist Newell says;
!; TURNER'S should examine their sor'
ghum and alfalfa crops closely and
frequently. also corn which is back
ward and which has not yet put out
ears. At their first appearance the
worms are very small and are easily
l overlooked, but growth Is rapid and
the damage done by feeding increases
at a geometrical ratio as the size OF
the army worms increases. Hence
almost before the farmer realizes Il
his corn is stripped 10 bare stalks OF
killed entirely. or alfalfa Is reduced
20 bare stems. Where the attacks Il
on young corn an abundance OF the
worms causes complete destruction o.
the plants: when only one or TIVE
army worms are present. they bor'
down into the bud OF the corn an'
eat the developing tassel. being Otter
referred to as bud worms"
When the warns appear on corr
or sorghum which is still. very small
say, less than ~ 10 IA inches high
we recommend the busting OF th'
n plants with powdered arsenate o
lead. using from three to FIVE lbs. pc
acre and busting II from cloth sack
such as are customarily used for
the cotton army worm.
Where the pest has appeared In IN
alfalfa fields. we urge the immediat
"a cutting and curing OF the alfalfa, an
u It's removal from the field. followin
}. this by rollong the field with heav
a roller and then discing Il with dis
harrow having the blades set TO Gu
straight. without digging up the soc
The object OF immediate cutting
u two-fold. first, to save the hay GRO
Il before the worms have time TO d.
stroy Il. and. secondly. 10 cut OF thei
food supply so as 10 prevent. as ia
as possible, the development Of al
other generation which may b
many times more destructive. As
soon as the hay Is removed from IN
field. rolling with heavy roller wi
: kill many OF the worms remainin
!" and the discing will destroy man
more which have reached maturit
ard entered the ground to form pupa
and win also form good mulch I
conserve moisture and stimulate N
alfalfa plants to renewed growth "a
the next cutting"
Following the conclusion OF his II
vestigation here, Mr.. Scott left Il
Waco. Austin and San Antonio, wher
: he will continue his observations q
" the dispersion OF the army worm.