The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-06-24
POISON FoR curwoRafs.
Recommend Use Of
Halt Containing Paris Green OH In.
tested Corn Land.

Il - -.-i,s s7A'si --
Cutworms usually begin to damage
crops about the time in the spring
when the grain first sprouts. Between
this time and late June or early July
they often prove disastrous to tho
farmer. The worm, however, so
closely resembles the color of the soil
In which 1t rests during the day that
the cause of the crop injury lis not al
ways apparent. In such cases a care
ful examination OF the soil surround
ing the damaged plant will probably
reveal the worm curled up in little
ball. ~. "a sF
When cutworms are abundant on
corn land. the use Of poisoned bait Is
recommended In Farmers Bulletin
7Ss. new publication on this subject
by w. r.. Walton and ]. j. I'avis, of
the department. The poisoned bait
may be prepared by mixing SO pounds
of wheat bran. Q pounds a. Paris
green. and finely chopped oranges
or lemons. I.pw-grade ,molasses is
added until the whole mixture attains
the consistency Of q stiff dough. Wa
ter also may be added II. necessary.
and middlings or alfalfa meal may be
substituted for bran. This bait should
be distributed. over the infested field
in small Jumps and sprinkIed SPAR
ingly around each hill. In case
where the field is known to be infest-
ed. this bait should be distributed as
soon as the corn appears above the
ground and before the cutworms have
had any opportunity to do much DAM
age. It In best to apply. the bait DUR
ing the late afternoon or early even-
tug hours. as the cutworms do most
OF their feeding at night. A narrow
hand Of the poisoned bait placed
around the edges OF the field will also
assist in protsctinss the ields from an
invasion. Of the; worms from the ad-
Joining grasslatSdk ..ess..ss : ! =.
y While these measures will aid In
minimizing .damase from cutworms
after the fields have become infest-
cd. II is always. advisable. to prevent
the invasion ". possible by oontrol,
measures insthe preceding year Grass
land. which It II Intended to plant TO
grain In the sprinss should, be- plow-
cd In midsummer or sariy fall about
the time tho grayish or browns
moths. which are the parsnts OF the
cutworms. hzxsstheir sesas. --rhis re-
moves the ss6stataen which the moths
desire for their eggs. The earlier in
the year grassiands are plowod the
less will be the probability that cut
worm moths will have laid their eggs
on them and In consequence the less
wtli be the danger Of injury the fol-
lowing year. A,sa .se ESi8 gse,
Late fan, and winter plowins also
will destroy many of the alternating
,,utworms as we'll. as such other pests
las white grubs.' This. therefore,
should be practiced when earlier
blowing Is impracticable. Farm poul-
try trained to follow the plow are also
Of great value In destroying the pest,
and hogs that are allowed to pasture
upon land that harbors cutworms will
root up and devour great quantities
~ thN fuoncfo
In most cases the moths lay their
eggs In the late summer or early. fall
In fields which are covered with grass
o' weeds. The worms hatch In q few
weeks. feed on this vegetation until
c'ld weather. and then hiberate as
partly grown caterpillar3. When the
field is broken up and plant
Gel to corn or othor wide-row crops
In tho spring the worms are deprived
of their natural food and are COM
polled to attack the newly planted
crop. They continue to consume an
tHormOus amount Of food until they
have attained their full growth, and
change to the pupal or resting stage
In late June or early July. sy
Mrs. b. T.. Birdsong, Of Columbia,