The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-10-21

Late fall and winter blowing Of
grasslands, although not as effective
as early plewing. will destroy many Of
the alternating cutworms. as well as
such other important pests as white
grubs. and should be practiced when
earlier blowing is impracticable.
Use Of Hogs and Poultry.
Pasturing hogs upon land supposed
to harbor cutworms Is a beneficial
practice. as these animals root up and
devour insects Of many kinds. includ-
ing cutworms, In large numbers. Farm
poultry. II trained to follow the pillow,
will prove of inestimable value.
Poisoned Balts-
When cutworms are found to be
abundant on corn land the use Of
poisoned bait is recommended. This
may be prepared as follows:
Wheat bran ....................pound 30
Paris green or crude arsenic. pounds
Blackstrap molasses ...........quarts
Water ........Quarts z 10
or more as needed
Mix thoroughly together in a dry
state the poison and the bran, then
add the diluted molasses and stir Wig.
orously until thoroughly mixed.
Distribute this bait over the infest-
ed field broadcast, taking care to
sprinkle II sparingly around each hill.
In case bran cannot be readily OBJ
tanned middlings or alfalfa meal may
be successfully substituted.
Where bran and other filters for pol
soned bats are prohibitively expen-
sive or difficult to obtain in sufficient
quantities. they may be diluted with
equal parts Of fresh hardwood saw
dust. The formula for poisoned bait
prepared In this manner is as follows:
Paris green or white arsenic. pounds 2
Fresh hardwood sawdust..... pounds Is
Wheat bran Compounds 70
Water .......................... quarts TO
or more as needed
This mixture Is not quite so eff
Client as the poisoned bait containing
the entire amount Of bran. but 1t has
shown good results and may be used
to advantage when necessary. Pine
sawdust should not be used. as this
seems to repel the insects.
Where only a small quantity Of poi.
soned bait is required the following
formula will be found most conven-
rent:
White arsenic or paris green. pound y
Dry bran ....................,peck
Moiasses ..........'................ pint
Water ............................Q quarts TO
or more as needed.
II Is often advantageous to allow
the mash thus obtained to stand for
several hours before using II, as this
seems to result In greater effective
ness.
In fields known to be infested the
distribution Of this bait should be
started as soon as the corn begins TO
appear above the ground, so that the
cutworm may be eliminated as quickly
as possible and the injured hills
promptly replanted.
csution.-Poisoned bats should be
distributed thinly. Prevent domestic
animals. including fowls, from eating
II. Arsenic and paris green are pol
sonous TO animals.
Protective Barriers and Trapping
Frequently cutworms migrate TO
cultivated fields from adjoining grass
lands. and In such cases the crops can
be protected by running a narrow
band Of the poisoned bait around the
edge Of the field or along the side
nearest the source Of infestation. This
form Of infestation most frequently
occurs In the semiarid states Of the
West and Northwest. Where cut
worms occur In hordes moving to-
gether In one direction they may be
trapped by the following method.
which often Is used In srmy-worm con-
troll: A furrow or ditch Gig. 81 IL
plowed or dug completely around the
infested area. In attempting to cross
such bitches the worms fall into them
and can easily be destroyed by crush
ing them with. log dragged back and
forth through the ditch or furrow. II
shallow post holes are sunk In the
bottom Of the ditch at intervals of
about twenty feet the worms will
crawl along the ditch bottoms and fall
into the holes. where they may be de-
stroyed by crushing or other means
Tf the subsoil be Of such a nature that
water penetrates II but slowly. the
post holes may be partially filed with
water. on the top of which layer
Of crude oil or petroleum may be
poured. Upon falling into such holes
the worms are almost Immediately de-