The Port Gibson reveille., 1920-07-15
GRASS WORMS TO
AGAIN APPEAR
Second Crop Due Within Next Two or
Three Weeks. Methods of Control.

Reports reach this office that the
grass worms are disappearing from
the corn fields, and the belief is ex-
pressed that there viii be no further
damage. This is probably mistak-
on idea. We are warned by the gov
Of worms will in all probability be out
in from two to three weeks, and those
who re-plant the devasted fields may
find this last planting as completely
destroyed as was the first.
We are told that one planter in the
section inundated by the high water
from the Mississippi river lost $50
acres of young corn, while another
lost 100 acres. This is great loss,
and other farmers want to avoid a
similar experience.
The following suggestions from the
Department of Agriculture will be
found helpful when thew orms again
make their appearance:
ado not clean corn of grass where
worms are present. Before cleaning
corn of grass, look sharply to see
whether this pest is present, either as
the young worm,--white, small and
feeding on but one side of the corn or
grass leaf,-or as the more nearly full
grown caterpillar feeding on the ex
tended leaf blade or eating into the
heart Of the growing shoot. In case
the pest is found, delav the removal
of the grass until after the worms up
on it have been poisoned. For if the
grass be killed any worms that were
feeding upon it will at once transfer
themselves to corn and increase the
rapidity of damage there. If no
worms are present, clean the grass
away and keep it so, as it is upon
grass that the female moths prefer to
lay their eggs; they will usually fiy
until they find it.
"Do not thin corn where the worms
are present. Even where the worms
are not found it will be well, this seas
on, to delay thinning the corn for as
long as may be done without stunting
the plants to be left.
"As the moths of these insects pre-
fer grass in which to deposit their
eggs, the worms are often discovered
in such places. If crops are planted
nearby it is absolutely necessary that
the worms be destroyed. ANY meth
cd that will kill them can be used, but
poisoning such strips is usually the
most practical method. IF a strip of
grass separates an infested field from
an uninfested one, the strip should be
poisoned. Care must be taken to
keep stock away from the poison.
Flowing burrows. In cases where
the worms appear in great numbers
IN certain fields, as for example, grass
lands, and are beginning to march out
ward to cultivated crops or other fields
deep burrows or bitches may be plow-
ed around the infested fields with the
vertical side away from the worms.
AS they congregate in these bitches
they can be killed by dragging logs
through the burrows. If the bitches
can be partially filled with water or
are nlled by rains, a small quantity
OF kerosene or other oil should be adj
9ea Sr 10 form a thin scum over the top.
Ihls Will prove fatal to the worms.
sometimes several burrows can be
ploWed around field so that the
worms that manage to cross the first
may get caught in the others.
Polsoned bran bait. Where an
area IN grass has been about eaten
up by, worms, the assumption of the !
army hablt and also pupation and the |
emergence of the moths as parents
oI another generation can be prevent !
ae' TO a very great extent, by the use |
y !, the poisoned bait, which the worms |
Will eat readily where fresh green
grass or corn is not about them. The |
oalt is composed as follows: wheat
'ran, so pounds; Paris green or white
arsenic, pound, or powdered arsen- /
lte OF lead, 2 pounds; low grade mo
asses, or "blackstrap," 2 gallons. The
'rand and insecticide are first mixed
ogether dry, the molasses is then adj