The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-06-22

| also be taken that the sowing Of wheat
In the fall Is delayed until the fy-free
date, Information regarding which date
can be obtained by applying to local
county agricultural agents or state ex'
detrimental stations. Finally, a good
rotation Of crops should be practiced
wherever possible, and the co-opera-
ton Of the entire community secured
in following these preventive meas
ureS.
Daily Action Is Necessary.
The army worm, known as pest Of
the farmer from early colonial times,
and the locusts or grasshoppers often
multiply under favorable conditions to
numbers sufficient to deyour great
areas Of both grain and forage crops.
Both may be killed easily If attacked
in time by sowing broadcast among
them a poisoned food which they pre-
fer to the grain and grass plants on
which they naturally feed. But this
method requires, as a rule, early notice
of the impending calamity, prompt or
ganization of the communities con-
cerned for self-defense and general ar
engagements for the quick supply Of all
the necessary materials in wholesale
Quantities-all measures for which
careful preparation must be made In
advance.
In case the worms are not discover
ed until they have begun to travel In
a mass, usually they can be destroyed
by furrowing or ditching completely
around the infested area. The worms
will fall into the bitches and can be
killed easily by crushing them with q
log-hitched to horse or mule-drag-
ged back and forth through the ditch
or furrOw. AnOther4znethOd Is to dig
shallow postholes In the bottom Of the
ditch at intervals of about 20 feet, In
to which the worms, crawling along the
ditch bottoms, will fall. They can then
be destroyed by crushing or othet
Fighting the cutworm.
The cutworm injury, which usually
consists in the cutting Off the plants
at or little below the surface Of tho |
ground, almost invariably occurs In the
spring, beginning as soon as the first |
plants sprout and continuing until late
June or early July, by which time the
worms nre full grown. The worms
iced at night and rest during the day
beneath debris or in the soil from one.
half to one inch below the surface.
and since In most cases they resemble
he soil closely In color the cause OF
he injury often Is not apparent. Pois
,ned bats are effective when cut.
worms are found to be abundant on
'orn land, but proper rotation Of crops
8 the best preventive measure. Pas.
uring hogs upon land supposed to
larbOr cutwOrms Is beneficial prac.
Ice, rs these animals root up and de-
our insects Of many kinds, including
utworms, In large numbers. Farm
oultry, allowed to follow the pillow, Is
lso Of great value.
A billion dollars year on the av.
rage Is sacrificed to insects In the
United States, according to careful
and estimates made by
ne experts Of the national department
( agriculture. It is q prize worth
ghting for, especially in these times
{ threatened scarcity Of food. But
ldividual guerrilla fighting to which
lis interest has been left In the past
i'll no longer suffice-has never sui.
ced, in fact. Carefully planned cam. ,
aigns by organized communities, par. .
cipated in by everyone so situated al
, be available, directed by experts ;
nd financed SO far as necessary by ,
le state, are the only means to sue .
,ss.