Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-11-05
STOP RE ARMY WORM.
Watch Meadows closeIy-spray, Pois
toned Bait and Ditch Traps Win
Control the Pest.

fSVuHVt tHC FCet'
Watchfulness is the first weapon to
use against the army worms. Upon
the discovery OF the pest in It's young.
sr'stages depends very largely the
possibility ofs stamping out intesta-
tions before serious injury TO crops
has occurred, declare entomologisls
Of the United States Department OF
Agriculture
Army worms are the young OF Ger.
tain moths or mllers that ny only at
night. The eggs from which the army
worms hatch are commonly laid on
grasses or grasslike grains and The
tiny caterpillars. upon Matching, feed
for several days near the ground, hid.
den by o9erhanging grasses or grains.
They may escape notice until nearly
full grown, by which time they have
become widely distributed over the
infested fields.
Meadows should be examined fire..
Quently during the spring and early
summer months. particularly those
planted to timothy. bluegrass, wheat,
apd especially millet. One should not
b 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
spain or grass should be parted with
ne hands in various parts OF the
fie!d and the lower portions OF the
growth examined closely, In order that
the presence of the small, greenish
caterpillars may be discovered. II
these be found ia, any number the area
covered by the infestation should be
dftsrmined and rigorous action taken
at once to destroy the worms before
they become large enough to begin
their journey to other portions OF the
fafm. II the infested SPOT be small,
the grass or era n can be moved eff
ana straw seattle ed over the 3pot a d
burned. thus destroying The orms.
'lfthe catapillars have become dis
trihnted over considerable area this
can be marked of by stakes and the
crop SPRAYED heavily with mixture
az Paxl~ green al the rate Of pound
to So gallons of water. II tender
blante, such as corn. are to be spray
ed! pounds OF freshly slaked lime
should be added to 50 gallons OF the
mixture. to prevent burning OF the
MliAse.
In rese the worms are crawling in
bTy surround them with a furrow
or ditch and crush them with log
drAg as they fan into it. If shallow
poAt holes are sunk in the bottom Of
the ditch at Intervals of about 20 feet
the worms will crawl along the ditch
bottom and fab into the holts, where
they may be destroyed.
Poisoned bats Of varying compost.
ton have long been used az a means
OF destroying the many different spe.
cies Oh ctltworms and also the army
worm. An effective bait of this kind
maybe prepared and used as follows:
TO so pounds Of wheat bran and !
pound OF Paris green or pounds OF
afsenste OF lead add the iuice
0l one half dozen GRANGER or
lemons Then bring the mass
to a stiff dough by adding low.
grade molasses or syrup, preferably
fiOlasses, 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 II is desired, II possible,
TO save the crop for forage purposes.
In case this poison il used. care
should be exercised in preventing
stock, from gaining access to the pols.
oned 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 &C.
complished, because il army worms
are DOT destroyed they will take the
crop away AID probably devastate 9th.
er portions OF The farm.
Additional information regarding
the army worm may be obtained from
Farmers Bulletin 70, which will be
sent on application to the Department
OF Agriculture.