Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-06-19
Quick Action to
Beat Army Wol m

The army worm is out in force
lga.n. Considerable damage has boon
| reported from central Illinois, and
| Missouri and Iowa have also suffered
damage this year. over 100 acres OF
rye destroyed in two days in single
hcld is the report of Mr.. Miner, Of
| henderson county. Illinois, and ten
acres Of young corn were wiped out in
Il day in Christian county, Illinois, re-
Gently.
None Of the farm crops Is immune
for tho worms will eat anything and
everything that Is tender and green.
Alfalfa fields have in some cases been
ruined "a Missouri. almost over night
Young corn is attacked and wheat and
rye are especial favorites.
What Il Looks Like.
Farmers everywhere are being urged
to keep on the lookout for the pest.
that 1t may be combated before any
too serious damage is done. The army
worm is a small greensh to grayish
caterpillar. found in great numbers
feeding, as rule, rather near the
ground. Before u particular army
gets well started, the most likely
places TO find them are in neglected
portions OF fields where there are rank
growths Of wild grass, or lodged and
fallen unripe grain says Arthur Lum-
brick. Nermilion county GllD agent
After the host of worms gets really
started, no one will have any diff
Guilty in telling where it has been or
what they are. Fields are stripped
IN b,.t ha % of
which the whole mass migrates to an
adjoining field.
Its habits permit Of two ways of
getting after 1t, and county agents are
urging that both be used. When the
worm is first discovered, and while it
is scattered all over a field. not
migrating. poison is the best means Of
attacking 1t.
Effective Poison Bait
The same kind Of poison bait may be
used for it as for grasshoppers, ac-
Cording to the University of Missouri
experts Mix 80 pounds of bran and
two pounds Of white arsenic (arsenate
of lcadl dry. Then mo!sten the mix
turo with a solution containing four
quarts Of blackstrap molasses, the
juice and chopped up pulp and rinds
Of dozen lemons or oranges, and
about eight gallons of water
THIS mash sh"&II &c just yet
enough SO that few drops will
squeeze out from handful. Il should
We sown broadcast in fields where the
worms are feeding, or planted in STRIPS
whore the worms are migrating. The
sowing may be done from horseback.
yy r.
convenient.
The best time 10 put the mash
around is in the evening. as the worms
dor most OF their feeding at night. and
he mash VIII not dry out too much
before they can eat it. They will fall
for a mixture such as this no matter
what they are feeding on. but there
are certain precautions to be observed.
All farm stock must be kept away
from areas where the poison has been
sowed according TO Sidney B. Smith.
county agent of Macon county, I'LL
nois If the worms are in a pasture.
the stock must be kept out of it. Even
after a heavy rain he thinks farmer
would be taking chances to turn stock
into a pasture which had been pois-
oned as the rain might not wash all
the poison out
Particular care must be used any
where near the house or barn lot. he
saws. as the chickens will find and eat
the poison mash if they are not con-
fined.
The main thing. Agent Smith SAYS.
IL to get quick action. The sooner
the poison is spread. the less the
worms will damage the crops. And
the sooner the worms are killed the
fewer there are to lie killed. and the
less danger OF their starting to
migrate
Furrow Stops Army.
When the army starts TO move,
another method besides poison be-