The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1917-06-29
WATCH MEADOWS
FOR ARMY WORM

Watchfulness is the first weapon OF
use against the army worms. Upon
the discovery of the pest in its younger
stages depends very largely the pos
sbiity of stamping out infestations
before serious injury to crops has oc-
Cured, declare entomologists of the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture.
Army worms are the young of cer-
tain moths or millers that fly only at
night. The eggs from which the army
worms hatch are commonly laid on
grasses and grass-like grains and the
tiny caterpillars, upon Matching, feed
for several days near the ground, hid
den by overhanging grasses or grains.
They may escape notice until nearly
full grown, by which time they have
become widely distributed over the in
tested fields,
Meadows should be examined fire.
quently during the spring and early
summer months. particularly those
planted to thimothy blue grass, wheat,
and especially millet. One should not
be satisfied with looking merely at the
surface Of the stand; the thicker and
longer the growth, the greater the
danger from the army worm. The
grain or grass should be parted with
the hands in various parts of the field
and the lower portions of the growth
examined closely, in order that the
presence of the small, greenish cater
pillar may be discovered. If these be
found in any number the area covered
by the infestation should be determined
and rigorous action taken at once to
destroy the worms before they become
large enough to begin their journey to
other portions of the farm. If the in
tested spot be small, the grass or grain
can be moved off and straw scattered
over the spot and burned, thus Destroy
ing the worms.
If the caterpilars heve become dis
tributed over considerable area this
can be marked off by stakes aad the
crop sprayed heavily with mixture of
Paris green at the rate of l pound to
50 gallons of water. If tender plants
such as corn, are to be sprayed, 2
pounds of freshly slaked lime should be
added to so gallons of the mixture, to
prevent burning of the foliage.
In case the worms are crawling in
body surround them with furrow or
ditch and crush them with log drag
as they fall into it. If shallow post
holes are sunk in the bottom of the
ditch at invervals of about 20 feet the
worms will crawl along the ditch bot
tom and fall into the holes, where they
may be destroyed.
Poisoned bats of varying composition
have long been used as a means of
destroying the many different species
OF cutworms and also the army worm.
An effective bait of this kind may be
prepared and used as follows: To SO
pounds of wheat bran and pound of
Paris green or 2 pounds of arsenate of
lead add the juice of one-half dozen
oranges or lemons. Then bring the
mass to a stiff dough by adding low
grade molasses or syrup, preferably
moasses, and scatter the mixture
broadcast in small pieces throughout
the infested field This poisoned bait
may be used safely in alfalfa and corn
fields where it is desired if possible, to
save the crop for forage purposes.
In case this poison is used care should
be exercised in preventing stock from
gaining access to the poisoned grass or
grain and being injured or killed by
eating it, 1t is far better to sacrifice
a portion of the crop, if the destruction
of the pest can be accomplished, be-
cause if army worms are not destroyed
they will take the crop anyway and
probably devastate other portions of
the farm.