The Mena weekly star., 1921-09-08
fALL. ARMY WORM
 DESTROYS COTTON
&5 Far as Known no Field in Polk County Has Escaped Pest-Damage Will Be Fully 50qo of Crop
 Origin and Remedies.
fWritten for The Star by c. W.
 Broyles. County Agent.l

4rkanSaS IS concerned cotton IS fated f0 play the role of the hoodooed crop. Many farmers who formerly depend ed chiefly upon cotton have, because of the low prices, turned their atten- ton to producing a living at home, but were still depending upon this ozle crop for their money income. But t9 all classes of farmers growing cot ton the invasion of the boil weevil, boil worm and fall army worm is very Alarming. But the most destructive 6f these pests is the army worm. The writer has just returned from a trip fI1ru the south end of Polk county, md during the past week not a A:s:a4gle field has come under his obser- vation that has escaped the ravages ox this pest.
 Cotton Completely Denuded.
 All over the county fields of cotton are completely denuded with only the tare stalks, stems and bolls of the cotton plants and boil of the cotton plants left standing. Many people do upt realize the true extent of the in- j6ry as they have heretofore seen the fall army worm come at a later date in the season when the cotton was preparing to ripen, and at such time t}le worm, by checking the vegetative growth, may have hastened the ripen- its early appearance has stripped the its earl appearance has stripped the <otton of it's leaves while the fiber is yet immature. This means low grade eotton, and the world already has loo much of this product. That other parts of the state are in the same plight is indicated by the report that are beginning to come in. One is to the effect that on the Scott planta- ton in Pulaski, where 600 acres were Haies are now expected.
 wanted in cotton, not more than 50
 Not the True Army Worm.
 The pest responsible for this dam a9e is not the true army worm, but is the fall army worm, sometimes called "grass worm," or overflow Worm." The natural home and feed Ing grounds are in grass lands, or grassy strips bordering cultivated Helds, and their favorite food plants are native grasses. Whenever the nlatured supply of food becomes iim- lted or unpalatable they collect and assume the marching" habit. Cot fon, corn, rice, oats, kafir, clover, al- faifa, millet, sorghum, coweas, po- tato, sweet potato, turnips, grape, spinach, cabbage, tomato, cucumber and tobacco, all have been eaten by the fall army worm. It has food pre- ferences, however, and has been known to devour the sorghum and leave the cowpeas standing in fields where these crops were planted to- gether for hay.
 The eggs from which the larvae 5atch are laid at night, by a small Moth, in clusters on grass blades. Tn about a week the eggs begin hatch Ing and very small caterpillars with white bodies and jet black heads are me result. At this time they eat lit- <ie and remain well hidden. Within from 3 to 4 days after matching they begin to change color and are begin- u1ng to feed voracously. In from Z 70 5 weeks from matching they be- come full grow.
 Worm Has Enemies.
 The fall army worm has many in- sect enemies which help keep it in <ontrol, chief of which are the tachina Hies, the ground beetles and soldier bugs, as all of these prey upon this pest. But damp, rainy weather is mfavorable to the development of fhese insect enemies, and the result E that general invasions of the fall Army worm occur following cold, wet springs. Among the birds that feed Npon the fall army worms are the Shipping sparrow, bluebird, mocking 4ird, meadow lark, yellow headed biackbird and crow blackbird or Erackle. Barnyard fowls feed readily Hpon the caterpillars.
 The Best Preventative.
 If the young caterpillars are dis EQyered feeding in the infested areas 4I grass before they attack the cul- zEIvated crops, one of the most effect @Fe ways of combating them is the |@pray these areas with pound of
 powdered arsenate of lead to 50 gal zons of water. When they are march =ng on field a furrow or ditch with Efeeply sloping sides should be Rlowed ahead of them. The soil hould be kept crumbly and loose so mat Tn attempting to climb the sides &ney will roll back into the furrow, 4nis may be accomplished by dragging
 log occasionally thru the ditch. Tn irving to cross the ditch the worm Hlil collect in large quantities and nay be destroyed by dragging the <:og or spraying with kerosene. Shal- <ow post holes dug at frequent in- teryals in the bottom of the furrow .#iii trap large numbers where they nay easily be destroyed.
 Poisoned Bran Ecective. M Poisoned bran bait is sometimes very effective. It Is made by mixing pO pounds of white arsenic or Paris green, or 2 pounds powdered arsenate 1I lead To this mixture is added 2 &aiions of low-grade molasses, after ne bran and insectide have been <noroiy mixed. Scatter the bait over ne fields when they are marching, or n nelds where their preferred food is Aot present. Dusting cotton with cal Faum arsenate, or arsenate of lead. asing the lead at the rate of part e ~ of plaster or lime dust, may .*erve to control the caterpillars. 's<praying the plants with arsenate of <fau, using 3 pounds arsenate of lead, # pounds soap for a sticker and 50 gallons of water.
 Other Crops Abundant.
 Fortunately cotton is the only crop <nht up to the present appears to have 2een attacked in Polk county. While ne damage to cotton will undoubted-
 run ee per cent, perhaps more, the
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