The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-07-28
ARMY WORM
INVASION
Now in this State and Miss
issippi
TO SPREAD
NORTHWARD
Agricultural Department Gives
Instruction for Destroying
Them

washington, July 26-The fall army
worm is doing general injury to field
crops in South Carolina and Missis-
sippi, and injury may be expected in
the north--in North Carolina, Virgin
N, and the more Northern States-as
the season advances, probably within
the next tsree weeks. In South Caro-
lima the insect has been especially in
furious to young corn, alfalfa and sor-
ghum.
AS the fall army worm advances
north, farmers can prevent serious
damage to their crops If they are on
the alert. The United States Depart
ment of Agriculture advises every
farmer to provide himself with a
practical spraying outfit, and to keep
on hand a few pounds Of one OF the
standard insecticides. such as arse
nate Of lead, Paris green or arsenite of
ziEc. In closed containers they may
be kept indefinitely without deteriora-
ton. and will be useful in connection
with some of the other pests even If
the army worm invasion does not
come. Every farmer should have at
hand also a copy of Farmers Bull
letin No. 9OS, which tells how to
max and apply insecticides, and Of
Farmers Bulletin 752, which tells in
detail how to control the fall army
worm. The bulletins may be had free
on application to the United States
Department of Agriculture, Washing
ton, y. G.
Thus provided, the farmer should
Keep constant watch over the growing
crops and thus be in a position to
meet invasions and vanquish the pests
before. they have a chance to do seri-
Gus damage. For those who may not
have bulletins at hand. the following
summary of control measures may be
useful.
The worms are likely to be found,
first feeding in. crab grass or other
grasses in the corn fields, or in grass
like grains If the stand is not too
thick for the worms to be reached
easily by the Insecticides, it should be
sprayed with mixture of pound o:
powdered arsenate OF lead to SO gal
Ions Of water, or If the paste form rs
'use':. {: POUNDS to so galI ms Of wm,er.
When the worms begin feeding on
corn, they usually attack the bud of
the plant first. A mixture Of 2 pounds
OF powdered arscnate of lead or to
Il pounds OF the paste to 40 gallons
OF water Is required, and the spray
should be applied SO as to force the
fluid deep into the bud Of the corn.
II Paris green Is used in place Of
n 4
to prevent burning. The formula is,
Paris green 10 ounces, freshly slaked
lime pounds, water SO gallons. Ap-
piled to growing crops, arsenate of
zinc also requires mixture of lime
to prevent burning. The formula for
the arsenical is, pound of the chem
ical. pound of freshly Stacked lime
and 30 gallons Of water, White ar
senic should never be applied to grow
ing crops In any form, as it is strong
ly caustic and will burn. Arsenate
OF lead is the safest insecticide for use
on growing corn.
When the army worms are march
ing or In fields, where their preferred
foods are not present, poisoned bran
bait Is very effective. 1t is composed
of SO pounds wheat bran, / pound
Paris green or white arsenic. After
the bran and insecticides are we'll
mixed. add 2 gallons Of low grade
molasses. to which may be added
sufficient water to make enough Ii
quid to thoroughly dampen the bran
An addition of s pounds of salt to so
pounds Of bran helps to keep the bait
in a moist condition, but is not neces-
sary. The addition Of finely chopped
lemons>or oranges appears to make the
balt more appetizing to the worms and
therefore,, increases its effectiveness.
The bait Is scattered broadcast over
the infested fields.
when the worms are on the march
or are starting in on one corner of a.
field OF grain, head them off by plow-
ing deep furrow directly in front of
them. then kill the worms falling into
this furrow by dragging a log through
1T. Where the whole field is infested.
plow furrow entirely around it SO
as 10 keep the worms out Of the sur
rounding fields. Keep the furrow free
from rubbish so that the worms will
nave no means of crossing it, Shallow
post noles dug at frequent intervals
at the bottom Of the furrOw will tran
many worms, which can then be de-
stroyed by crushing. If the subsoil
Will hold water well, the holes may be
partially filled with water and q little
coal oil or petroleum poured over it,
The oil will soon kill the worms that
fall into tha holn