The Glasgow courier., 1916-04-07
CUTWORM CONTROL
Cornfields May Be Protected by
Flowing at the Proper Time
and Using Poison.

wages of cutworms, especially in re-
lation to corn, are received each sea-
son by the department. Prompt ac-
ton is necessary for controlling
cutworms after their presence be-
comes noticeable in the spring, which
is usually about the time the corn be-
gins to sprout. Because of the fact
that the delay necessary between the
time the worms make their appear
ance and the time reply can be re-
ceived from the department is often
disastrous to the crop, the importance
of recognizing these insects and
knowing how to control them is evi-
dent.
Cutworm injury almost invariably
occurs in the spring the plants usual
ly being cut off at the surface, or
little below the surface, of the ground
beginning as soon as the first plants
sprout and continuing until late June
or early July, by which time the
worms are full grown. Feeding takes
place at night, the worms resting
during the day beneath debris or in
the soil at a depth of from one-half
inch to one inch below the surface
and since they SO closely resemble
the color Of the soil in most cases,
the cause of the injury is not often
apparent. However, if the soil sur
rounding the cutoff plant be examin-
ed carefully, the culprit will be quite
likely be found curled up in the soil
as illustrated.
The various cutworms are known
under a number of popular names,
such as the CLASSY cutworm, greasy
cutworm, variegated cutworm, clay
backed cutworm, etc.. but the injuries
caused by them are very similar and
their habits in general are also very
much the same. The parents Of cut
worms are grayish or brownish moths
or "millers," which commonly occur
at lights during the summer evenings.
Each moth may lay from 200 to sou
eggs, either in masses or singly, IN
fields covered with dense .vegation,
and hence are to be found more often
in cultivated fields which have been
in grass or weeds the preceding fall
a few weeks after they are laid, US
ually during September, and the
Young cutworms after feeding on
grass and other vegation until cold
weather, pass the winter as partly
grown caterpillars. If such infested
fields are left to grass, no noticeable
injury is likely to occur, but when it
is broken up and planted to corn or
other wide row crops, the worms, be-
ing suddenly placed on "short ra-
tons" wreak havoc with the newly
planted crops, the nearly full-growr
worms, should be plowed in midsum'
ing an enormous amount OF food IN
northern latitudes they attain full
growth and stop feeding in late June
or early July and change to the pu'
pal or resting stage. The injury OF
ten ceases so suddenly that farmers
are at loss to account for the fact
Land to be planted to corn the FOL
lowing spring, especially such lan'
as has laid in grass for a consider
able time and is likely to contain cut
worms, shauld be plowed in midsum
mer or early fall about the time tn
eggs are laid, for then vegation whlc'
is suitable for the moths to lay thel
eggs upon is removed. The earle
the preceding year grasslands to b
planted to corn are plowed, the les
will be the probability that the cut
worm moths will have laid their egg
thereon, and the less, consequently
will be the danger of injury by cut
worms the following year.
Late fall and winter plowlng Q
grasslands, although not as effectlv
as early plowing, will destroy man
of the alternating cutworms, as we
as such other important corn pest
"A white grubs, and should be prat
ticed when earlier plowing is imprac'
icable.
Pasturing hogs upon land suppose
to harbor cutworms is bene1lci'
practice, as these animals root up an
devour insects of many kinds, inclut
ing cutworms, in large number
Farm poultry, if trained to folio
the plow, will prove of inestimab
value.
When cutworms are found to
abundant on corn land, the use OF tt
poisoned bait is recommended. Tn
may be prepared as follows: Mix
pounds of wheat bran, 2 pounds
Paris green, and 6 finely chopp'
oranges or lemons. Then bring tt
whole mixture to the consistency OF
stiff dough by the addition OF
cheap molasses, such as is used