The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-06-29
Int Worms Raislng Havoc

OfonO, June iu.--1oHiPidlHtS DelIbS
daily received at the College of Agri-
culture and by agricultural extension
service agents throughout the state
Indicate that cut-worms are raising
havoc in many gardens and fields in
Maine. They seem to be unusually
plentiful and active this year.
Speaking of this pest and methods
Of combating it, \. X. Gardner, crops
specialist of the extension service
said:
Under the general term cutworms
we commonly designate any of the lar
vac of several species OF moths which
are more or less similar in general
appearance and habits. and which
have the habit OF feeding on low
growing vegetation, and cutting Off the
stem Just at the surface of the ground.
They are different than The grub
WORMS or white grubs. with which
they are sometimes confused. and
which are, at times, equally destrue-
tive. These cutworms are omniYorons
in their feeding. When abundant
they will eat anything green and sue
culent, foliage, flowers. buds. fruit,
stalks or roots. They sometimes mi
crate to other fields in armies like the
army worms. We do not OF course
have this condition in the state.
The little caterpllars which hatch
from the eggs of the moths in August
or September feed on the roots of
whatever vegetation Is available until
frost, going deeper as il approaches,
and finally hollow out small cells, in
whiehsthey curl up and hibernate I'M
til the next spring. The next spring
they are exceedingly hungry after their
long fast, and attack any vegetation
at hand with surprising yoracity. II
the land Is in grass or weeds they
have plenty of food, and if it Is then
plowed and planted, the crop is bound
to be injured
The cutworms usually become full
grown during late spring or early
summer and are then one and one
half to two inches long. of a dull
brown. gray or blackish color, often
tinged with grenish, and more or less
marked with stripes, dots or dashes,
the markings usually being Of sub
dued tone, harmonizing in color with
THE soil. The mature caterpillars
pupate In cells n few inches below the
surface and in three or four weeks
the adult moth emerge, usually in the
latter part of July or August. There
Is usually but one generation n year.
1t is evident from their life history
that, like the white grubs and wire
worms, cutWorms may be most effect
ually combated in the field by pillow
ing In late fall and again ploughing
and narrowing thoroughly in the early
spring SO as to keep the land fallow
! and thus starve them out. Land
which is to be planted in corn or crops
| subject to cutworm injury should be
plowed as early as possible in late
summer of the preceding year and
kept fallow so that the moths will
not depc sit their eggs upon it, as they
will If it is left in grass or weeds.
Poisoned bran mash is probably the
best thing for destroying cutWorms
and If well applied a few days before
the plants are set or few days after
the seed Is planted, will often protect
he crops on infected land. On corn
land IT may be applied with seed
drill, and in gardens an onion drill is
sometimes used In the same way,
placing the mash on the surface near
the plants; or it may be applied by
hand. placing n tablespoonful near
each plant or every two or three feet
n row. Distribute the mash late in
the afternoon so that it will be kept
moist when the worms come to the
surface to feed at dusk. Glover which
Il he Il Ia
ped in water containing one-thrd
pound paris green per barrel, may be
used N the same way, particularly
along the outside of fields to be pro-
tected or along borders of fields next
to grass.
A good bran mash can be made mp
by using one pound of bran, one ounce
of paris green or two to three ounces
of argenate of dry lead, half cup of
syrup or molasses and quart of wa
ter Place the paris green and bran
in container and mix thoroughly
while dry. Dissolve the syrup in wa
ter and mix this with the poisoned
bran, stirring thoroughly. This mix
ture, il favored with ground up
oranges or lemons may also be used
for destroying other insects, especial
ly grasshoppers. Cabbage, tomato and
similar plants can be protected from
cutworms by placing around the stems
and sinking into the soil, bottomless
Tin cans or cylinders of building pa
per. Some recommended, when trans
planting tomatoes, cabbage. etc. dip
ping the stem in arsenate of lead
before placing in the ground, using
about an ounce of lead to gallon of
water.