The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1918-05-31

also be taken that the sowing Of wheat
IN the fall Il delayed until me ny.free
date, Information regarding which date
can be obtained by applying TO local
county agricultural agents or state ex-
perimental stations. Finally, a good
rotation OF crops should be prncticed
wherever possible. and the co-opera-
ton OF the entire community secured
In following these preventive meas
urcs.
Daily Action 10 Necessary.
The army worm. known rs u pest OF
the farmer from early colonial times,
and the iocusts or grasshoppeu often
multiply under favorable conditions TO
numbers sufficient 10 deyour great
areas OF both grain and fomgc crops.
Both may be killed easily " attacked
In time by sowing broadcast among
them a poisoned food which they pre-
fer 20 the grain and grass plants on
which they naturally feed. But this
method requires. ms a rule. early notice
N the impending calamity, prompt or
~ganlzntion OF the communities con-
ccrned FOR sclf-defcnse and general mr.
rnngcments for the quick supply OF all
the necessary materials In wholesale
Quantitles-nll measures tor which
careful preparation must be made In
advance.
In case the worms are not discover
ed until they have begun &C. travel In
a mass, usually they can be destroyed
by furrowing or dltching completely
around the infested area. The worms
will fnll lato the bitches nad can DO
killed easily by crushing them with n
log-hitchcd To n horse or nule-drag-
gcd back and forth through tho ditch
or furrow. Another method II 10 dig
shallow postholes In the bottom Of tho
ditch az intervals OF about 20 feet. In
tn which the worms. cruwiing along tho
ditch bottoms. will fall. They n then
be- destroyed by crushing or other
means.
Fighting the cutworm.
The cutworm injury, which usually
consists In the cutting on the plants
NJ or n little below the surface OF tho
ground, almost invariably occur In the
spring. beginning as soon us the hrst
plants sprOut and continuing until late
June or early July. by which time tho
worms are fun grown. The worms
feed az night and rest during the dag
beneath debris or In TIE soil from one
half 10 one inch below the surface,
aud since In most cnses they resemble
the soil closely In color the cause OF
the Injury often Is not apparent. Pols-
oned bnits are effective when cut
worms are found to be abundant on
corn land, but proper rotation OF crops
Is the best preventive measure. Pas
turing hogs upon land supposed to
hnrbOr cutworms Is a beneficial prnc-
ticc. ns these animals root up and de-
your insects Of many kinds, including
cutworms, In large numbers. Farm
poultry, allowed to follow the pillow, IL
also OF great value.
A billion dollars n year on the av-
erage Is sacrificed Ia Insects IN the
United States. according 10 careful
computations and estimates made by
the experts OF the national department
OF agriculture. II Is a prize worth
nghting for, especially In these times
OF threatened scarcity OF food. But
individual guerrilla lighting TO which
this interest has been left In the past
will no longer suflce-has never suf.
feed, In fact. Carefully planned cam
paigns by organized communities. par
ticlpated In by everyone 10 situated as
to be available, directed by experts
and financed 10 far ns necessary by
the state, are the only means TO sue
cess.